Rally in Swat urges govt to change route of expressway

MINGORA: The elders and land owners on Wednesday staged a protest asking the provincial government to change the route of the proposed Swat Expressway phase-II to save agricultural land.

The protesters, including kids, marched from Swat Press Club to Nishat Chowk. They were chanting slogans against the proposed project. Later, addressing a press conference at the Swat Press Club, the elders, including Zahid Khan, Fathullah Khan, Amir Nawab, Zahid Hussain and others, said that the proposed map would destroy their valuable orchards and affect their fertile lands.

“The government must change the project’s map. It will have environmental and economic consequences, as thousands of trees as well as orchards will be destroyed,” said Alhaj Zahid Khan, a local elder.

He asked the provincial and federal governments to change the decision in the best interest of the area and save the land owners from looming starvation. “The proposed project is the violation of Land Acquisition Rules 2020, Agricultural Land Protection Act 2021, and National Climate Change Policy 2012.

The government should build the motorway on the bank of Swat river, which will provide a beautiful landscape to the tourists, and will also provide protection to the land from the erosion and floods,” Zahid Khan added.

Amir Nawab Khan, a local resident, said he would be deprived of all his agricultural land and valuable peach orchards if the proposed project was implemented. He urged the government to revisit the decision and took the locals into confidence.

Javed Khan of Charbagh claimed that former chief minister Mahmood Khan, and his brother Ahmad Khan had approved the project to save the lands of their near and dear ones. He said the affectees would take to the streets along with their families if their demand was not accepted.