Chitral roads in poor condition

  DAWN

  Zahiruddin

CHITRAL, June 24: Roads in Chitral district — damaged by snowfall, flood and landslides last winter — are yet to be repaired and cleared of boulders and other debris.

The busy Chitral-Shandur road is in ruins. This is likely to affect the Shandur festival, which is just two weeks away. During the last three months, more than eight people have been killed in accidents on the road.

In early April, roads leading to different valleys of the district were closed for traffic for more than two weeks after heavy snowfall. The roads were reopened by the residents on a self-help basis.

The poor condition of roads is also affecting the tourism industry.

A tour operator said they felt hesitation in accepting tour programmes of foreign groups. He said the damaged roads would put the lives of foreigners at risk and they would have a negative impression of the area.

Local people say the Shandur festival is likely to be affected the most because there is no possibility of clearing the roads.

They regret that the festival has been included in the calendar of events of ‘Visit Pakistan Year’ by the Ministry of Tourism but no effort has been made to repair the road leading to the festival venue.

When contacted, District Nazim Maghfirat Shah told Dawn the provincial government had not released required funds for rehabilitation of the roads despite repeated requests.