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Work on 220 Km Chitral-Tajikstan Road will be starts soon

By Zahiruddin

CHITRAL: Federal minister of communication Arbab Alamgir Khan has said that work on the 220 km Chitral-Tajikistan road will be started soon which will change the very fate of Chitral and the province of Khyber Pukhotoonkhwa and bring progress and prosperity in the area. Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, he said that the PPP government had determined to materialise the project of immense importance for the people of this backward area. He said that the feasibility study of the project has been carried out and the route consists of five kilometer tunnel between Chitral and Badakhshan province of Afghanistan in Durrah Pass. Mr. Khan said that the spiritual leader of Ismaili community Prince Karim Aga Khan is evincing great interest in the project and has offered financial assistance. He said that President Asif Zardari will shortly visit Tajikistan in this connection and will sign necessary documents with Tajik government. Regarding Lowari tunnel project, he said that the project will be completed by the end of 2012. He said that the rail tunnel project has been changed to road tunnel keeping in view the shortage of electricity and complications of its operation. The federal communication minister said that with the completion of Lowari tunnel project, Chitral will also be linked with China and it will as catalyst for acceleration of economic activities. He said that Chitral-Shandur (150 kms) and Chitral-Garam Chashma (45 kms) roads will be handed over to National Highway Authority to ensure their proper maintenance. Responding to a question about the tirade of PML-N leadership about media, he alleged that the resolution in Punjab Assembly was passed with the consent of Nawaz Sharif but now he is trying his best to save his face using different tactics. "Nawaz Sharif is consummate in taking a U-turn when the public opinion goes against him and the sacking of Mastikhel MPA is just farce to hoodwink the people", he said.