Lowari tunnel

This refers to the news report, ‘PM approves KP plan’ (February 25). Nobody can dispute the inclusion of the Lowari tunnel in the PSDP. The real issue is to allocate the proposed fund in order to complete the project by October 2017. The mega project was due to be completed in September 2010 but could not meet the deadline due to paucity of funds as successive governments, out of sheer favouritism, nepotism and provincialism, diverted the earmarked fund to other projects giving rise to a sense of deprivation among the people of Chitral.
Since the project has strategic, security, economic and political importance, it is hoped the present government will not divert the proposed fund elsewhere and ensure timely allocation of funds for the project to materialise in the stipulated timeframe.
Aftab Muhammad Shah
Chitral