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Suffering of Chitralis continues -letter

Opening of Lowari top has not lessened the sufferings of the people of Chitral. Due to ongoing military operations in Swat and other adjacent areas of Malakand division, people of Chitral are unable to travel on Dir-Malakand road. Due to frequent curfew vehicular traffic and trucks laden with essential commodities of life are not allowed to run on the Malakand road.

This closure of Malakand road has added to the miseries and hardships of the people of Chitral. People still use Kunar Afghanistan route to go down country and prices of essential items of daily life have gone up. In a local market one bag of cement is being sold at Rs 560 and the price of same bag is Rs 240 to 290 in down country. Same is the case with other items and shopkeepers are earning huge profits. Work on Lawari tunnel has been discontinued due to security reasons and people are greatly perturbed.

Meanwhile, the sudden decision of Govt. to close down all educational institutions in Chitral have surprised people and they term it unnecessary in the prevailing conditions of Chitral. PIA flights are frequently suspended due to inclement weather conditions and passengers are stranded in Chitral and Peshawar .

Therefore, keeping in view the above-mentioned conditions, Govt. should take immediate steps on war footing. C-130 and extra PIA flights should be sanctioned for Chitral. PIA should reduce its fare for Chitral owing to lowering oil prices in international market. District Administration should establish its writ and contain profiteering. MNA and MPAs of Chitral should take up these matters with the Govt. at federal and provincial level. Govt should deploy security forces of Chitral in border areas to check infiltration from Afghanistan and Dir areas.

Bashir Hussain Azad,
Chitral.
21 May 09

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