Senior analyst Shamim Shahid appreciated South Korea for its assistance for construction of Malakand tunnel project and said that the project would reduce pressure of traffic on Torkham Road because it would link Dir-Chitral with Tajikistan. Talking to a private news channel, he said that efforts were underway to extend the road to Tajikistan through Lowari Tunnel. He added that Malakand tunnel would provide an opportunity to establish direct trade relations with Central Asian Republics. He said that project would also link the route with Afghan province Badakhshan and Uzbekistan through Garam Chashma. He said that Malakand tunnel would promote tourism sector in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He termed the Malakand tunnel project as beginning of new era of development in the area. Shamim Shahid said President Asif Ali Zardari had already approved the construction of Express Way from Malakand to Chitral.
