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Opening of Lawari tunnel has brought relief to a common man

By Zahiruddin

CHITRAL: The opening of the unfinished Lowari tunnel for the public daily for two hours in the winter season has made the residents of Chitral to forget all the miseries and troubles they used to face in the past with the closure of Lowari Pass. Talking to chitraltimes.com here on Wednesday, they said that Lowari Pass (10230 feet in altitude above sea level) used to render the residents of the district virtually imprisoned within the boundaries of mighty mountains of the Hindukush range for five months of the year. Recalling the tales of gloom and miseries, they said that during the last sixty years, more than one thousands passengers have reportedly lost their lives to cross the blood-thirsty hump of Lowari. The only source to travel to the other parts of the country was PIA Fokker flights which were also weather dependent and cancelled for two weeks consecutively. The commodities of daily use also ran short in the district, they said and added that the situation was badly exploited by the traders who hoarded the items and the prices rose to a level beyond the purchasing power of common man. They also mentioned the collapse of postal system in Chitral due to the cancellation of PIA flights which further caused the disruption of official business both in private and government departments while hundreds of people missed their examinations and interviews. A large number of patients died while they were being shifted to Peshawar for treatment. The tourism industry, they said, also faced closure during the season and unemployment reigned supreme in the valley. They termed the Lowari tunnel a blessing for Chitral and a dream which had come true. Although the breakthrough of the tunnel had been materialized in 14 January last but the government opened for public to travel through it only this year pressed by growing demands. The jubilant residents said that the opening of the tunnel for the public has brought relief to a common man beyond description. They said that the smooth supply of the items of daily use during the winter season is a new but fabulous experience for them which they did not imagine in their lifetime. They said that life is as smooth as it was in summer season and the half-million population of Chitral is no more in captivity of the Hindukush Mountains. However, they complained that the fares of both goods and passengers have not been rationalized by the government after opening of the tunnel. They said that the old rates have not been revised while two hours journey has been shortened but the people have been left at the mercy of the transporters who fleece them. They demanded drastic measures so that the affects of Lowari tunnel are transmitted to the people.