Chitral --  Prominent social worker Wg Cdr (r) Fardad Ali Shah has in a press statement demanded from the government to immediately open both the tunnels at the Lowari pass for round the clock traffic. He said if the Govt did not have enough funds to continue the finishing of the tunnel it could at least allow the present tunnels to be used for traffic.

This will save thousands of liters of fuel every day and bring down the vicious price hike in Chitral, not to talk of the wear and tear of the vehicles and human beings and saving of three hours of traveling time. He said even now the tunnel is being allowed to those with connections at the NHA, District administration or the Chitral Scouts, but the poor and helpless who deserve it most are sent hurling over the 10500 ft mountain with impunity.

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He said even last winters he persistently demanded for round the clock opening of the tunnel instead of only two hours a day but unfortunately the professional politicians of Chitral did not support him and commuters had to suffer waiting hours on end at the mouth of the tunnel unnecessarily. He said even now politicians should  come to their senses and prioritize what is practical and easily doable.

He said the small tunnel is complete and the main tunnel is also usable as we have seen in the last two years. The ditches and puddles created inside the main tunnel purposely by the NHA and SAMBU to make the tunnel difficult for use should be filled with stone crush available right at the site and the tunnel be made operational forthwith.

He demanded of the government to complete the tunnel at the earliest but as long as that is not done for whatever reasons, allow full traffic to pass through both the tunnels without any further delay. He said the high cost of living in poor Chitral is mostly self inflicted and denying the tunnel's use to Chitralis is one major cause of this.  --CN report, 20 July 2011

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