CHITRAL NEWS                                                                                                                                              Home page

Lowari tunnel seminar in Islamabad

CHITRAL, 15 Feb, 09:  An impressive seminar in Islamabad marked a 'Chitrali salutation' to the Lowari Tunnel. Organised by 'Chitral Development Forum Islamabad' and held at the up market Serena Hotel, the seminar was attended by Ministers, Parliamentarians, Diplomats, heads of NGOs, high ranking govt officials, elite, social workers and Chitral lovers. Federal Minister for States and Frontier regions, Najmuddin Khan was the chief guest on the occasion while provincial minister from Chitral Saleem Khan was also present. The theme of the seminar was "Lawari Tunnel Project: Challenges and the Way Forward”.  The seminar began with recitation of the Holy Quran by Qari Buzurg Shah Al-Azhari.  Fateha was offered and one minute silence observed for those who laid  down their lives working on the project.  Address of welcome was presented by Muhammad Wali Khan a senior beurocrat and chairperson of the organising committee.  In line with the theme of the seminar, exhaustive presentations were made by, Sher Wali Khan Aseer and Ali Sher Khan., Dr. Inayatullah Faizi, Shahzada Masoodul Mulk and Shahkarez Khan, which were highly appreciated for their class and content.

The chief guest in his address said The idea of extending road access to Central Asia via Chitral was fully supported by President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani who have issued directions to the Ministry of Communication for extending road links to Central Asian States via Chitral. He said  he would personally request the government to carry out feasibility study of all the possible sites for such road including Dorah pass and Broghil pass. The Minister also reiterated that the machinery working on Lawari Tunnel would not come back rather would go ahead to begin work on road link to Tajikistan. Chitral had enormous resource potential especially the water resources for hydel power generation, which the people’s government wanted to, utilize he said.

 At the end of the seminar, souvenirs were presented to all those who had contributed to the cause of the Lowari Tunnel. Professor Israruddin a senior Academician was asked to perform the task.  For once Chitralis showed tremendous self respect by putting the name of their former MNA  Ataliq Jafar Ali Shah on top of the list ahead of even former heads of state. They explained the reason and said the man who founded the idea at a time when even thinking about mega projects was a taboo, fought for it and persuaded the then PM Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Shaheed to begin work on it, deserved no less. Through this magnanimous gesture on the part of the educated Chitrali community, a clear message has been sent to all and sundry, that any one who rises above self and works honestly and diligently for the collective benefit of Chitral will not go unsung in the eyes of the people.  His souvenir was received amidst thundering applause by his grand son, Feroze Ali Shah.  Others who were awarded souvenirs besides the two former heads of state, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Shaheed and Pervez Musharaf, included former parliamentarians, Governors, Ministers, NHA officials, Dist Govt Nazims, journalists and others who had rendered their contribution to the cause of the Lowari tunnel.

Later in the evening A cultural show was organised in which Chitrali artists performed on stage, and which was largely participated not only by Chitralis living in Rawalpindi/Islamabad, but also participants had come from Peshawar to attend it.  --(CN News).