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Urgency for Shandur Tunnel
The people of Chitral have long historical, geographical and
cultural relations with Gilgit Baltistan. They have their relatives
there, they work there, they have established businesses there, and
they bring commodities of daily use from there. While doing all
these they use the dilapidated Shandure road. During winter when
Shandur pass closes due to heavy snow fall, people of Chitral
perform agonizing, confusing and painstaking long journey through
different valleys of Chitral before entering Kunar valley in
Afghanistan. They continue their journey along with Chitral River
until they reach Peshawar after crossing Nawa Pass near Chaghan
Sarai a capital city of Kunar province. From Peshawar they use
either Swat rout or the famous silk rout through Haripur, Abbot
Abad, Mansehrah and the narrow valley of Kohistan along with the
sharp flowing Indus River to meet their relatives living in the
superb of Gilgit in case of emergency. This long journey takes at
least five to seven days. Additional one or two days require when
any serious case occurs in Ghezir valley which is located at a
distance of at least two hours drive from Chitral in summer months
when Shadur pass remains opened. In Chitral almost everyone
essentially encounters some rigorous steps while traveling in
winter.
Shandur which is the pass located in the eastern part of Mastuj
(Chitral). The Shandur pass road connects Laspur Valley of Chitral
with Ghizer district of Northern Areas. This mountain road lies at
an altitude of around 12500 ft above sea level. The road is
complicated particularly challenging to drive due to presence of
many hairpin bends with the road becoming exceedingly narrow at
some points and some very steep inclines. In rainy day jeep’s wheel
gets stuck in the mud and without helping hands the wheel could not
be got out. This road is a steep climb or decent with no guard rail
or prevention to stop vehicles from going over. It is a dangerous
because it has huge pot holes and very little grip for the vehicles
that travel on it. It’s a legendary for its extreme danger. Further
the fog and rain can make the visibility poor and the road surface
becomes muddy, loosening rocks from the hill side above.
Windshields and headlights are easy targets of flying rocks. In
winter the snow fall blocks the road completely. Much causality
occurs on this treacherous road annually.
It’s only Shandur Pass that isolates Chitral from Gilgit for almost
six months of the year. There is no danger of avalanches but sharp
blowing gale exists through out winter. The danger of frost bite
and losing pedestrian rout due to constant changing of weather
seems horrifying every moment. People of Laspur have expertise to
understand the moody weather of Shadur. They assist the travelers
in cloudy and in rainy days. In winter the travelers stay in Laspur
waiting the weather to be cleared. Boarding and lodging facilities
are provided by the cooperative and hospitable people of the area
until the travelers cross the pass.
To overcome these encompassing issues Chitral needs a permanent
land rout through northern areas. As alternative this rout will
also be used for defensive purposes as well as for commercial
purposes. Now the blockage of river Indus consequent upon the
result of land erosion near Hunza has increased the urgency of
alternative rout through Chitral. Construction of carpeted road up
to Shandur Pass at Gilgit side and up to Mastuj at Chitral side is
underway which will be completed in due course of time.
Construction of a seasonal road over Shandur Pass will not
eliminate the problems in thorough. This road will be used only in
summer but for the winter months the situation will remain stand
still until a tunnel beneath Shandur Pass is constructed. This
project will be economical than Lawari Tunnel. The tunnel will be
completed in six months time period. For the travelers going to
Rawalpindi or Peshawar from Gilgit the road through Chitral valley
is nearer than the journey through silk rout via Kohistan, Mansehra,
Abbotabat, Haripur, Hassan Abdal and finally Texala. Total length
from Gilgit to Rawalpindi through Kohistan will be round about 700
Km, while the distance from Gilgit to Rawalpindi through Chitral
would be approximately 550 Km. The cost of the tunnel lengthening
3-4 Km will be equivalent to one year’s repairing cost of
Rawalpindi - Gilgit Road. When this project is completed the road
will further reduce its distance from 550 Km to 500 Km. This road
will also be beneficial for the military from defense point of
view. In case of emergency or foreign aggression this road will be
used for military movement and mobilization. This road is also
deemed important for the people of northern Areas in particular for
the business coterie. The products of China will reach Afghanistan
through Chitral which is the nearest and accessible rout. And
through Afghanistan these articles and wares will eventually reach
Iran, Turkey and then many European countries. The objectives of
Lawari Tunnel will not be achieved until Shandur Tunnel is built.
Our political leadership should divert their attention towards this
important activity. General Pervez Musharaf the former President of
Pakistan endeavored to open all such routs which isolated different
important cities from each other. Construction of Lawari Tunnel was
one of them.
Maham Saleem
Chitral
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