Chitral’s Arandu valley gets road for first time

CHITRAL: The inhabitants of the landlocked villages in Arandu valley were over the moon as work on the 13.5 kilometre road was inaugurated at Domel.
The villages in Arandu tehsil had been without the access road for the last 68 years.Funded by PATRIP Foundation of government of Federal Republic of Germany, the Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP) is the implementing partner of the project.
General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 17th Division Major-General Javed Mehmood Bukhari, Member National Assembly Shahzada Iftikharuddin and officials of the district administration attended the inauguration ceremony.
The road, which would be built in 18 months, would link Domel valley with 14 villages of Arandu. The Arandu valley would also be linked with Kunar and Nuristan provinces of Afghanistan. The route has been used by Chitralis to travel through Afghanistan before the construction of Lowari tunnel. “The road will go a long way in promoting trade and communication between the neighbouring valleys of Pakistan and Afghanistan,” said a local elder.
Speaking on the occasion, GOC Javed Mehmood Bukhari paid glowing tributes to the staff of SRSP for working in most inhospitable and harsh environment and delivering with integrity and selflessness across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata.
He said the organisation had a knowledge-based work and coordinated its work with other development organisations.The MNA and Chitral deputy commissioner also appreciated the contribution of the SRSP to the development of Chitral.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SRSP Masoodul Mulk said that the people of far-off areas could solve their problems only through participatory mode of development.Rozi Khan, a senior citizen of Arandu, said the valley had been facing problems due to the absence of the road.