Communications Additional Secretary Saifullah Chattha said on Friday that the present government was bringing all resources into use for timely completion of all ongoing projects including Lowari Road Tunnel so that longstanding demands of the people are met and their deprivations are practically alleviated.
Chattha expressed these views while presiding over a high level meeting regarding Lowari Road Tunnel. The meeting was attended by foreign consultants, Austrian communications experts, Communications Joint Secretary Jodat Ayaz, NHA Member Construction Yousaf Ali Khan, Lowari Tunnel General Manager Col (r) Suleman and other concerned officials. Suleman, while giving a detailed briefing over the project, told the participants that construction work on the project was proceeding unhindered, whereas all possible resources were being brought into use for its early completion.
Austrian communications experts, while giving their opinions and forwarding proposals, stressed the need to impose a ban on vehicles loaded above the allowed quantity to pass through the tunnel, so that the tunnel is saved from adverse effects of overloading.
In this regard, the local administration of Dir and Chitral was instructed to take concrete steps for implementations of these rules.
Chattha further said that Lowari Road Tunnel was indispensable for the people of Chitral and Dir because it was the only road link for the people of these areas with the rest of the country. Moreover, this road tunnel will also facilitate access to Afghanistan and Central Asian States whereas, the country’s trade, tourism and industry will also benefit from it, he said.
Therefore, its early completion was the need of the hour, the additional secretary added. He also acknowledged the fact that at times work on the tunnel had to be stopped due to financial constraints and law and order situation, however the government was determined at removing all hindrances in the way of this mega project so that the people of Dir and Chitral could benefit from it and brought into the country’s mainstream.
