Construction of Mastuj-Broghil Road demanded

CHITRAL: The local political and social figures, civil society members and elders from Upper Chitral on Sunday urged the government to construct Mastuj-Broghil road to facilitate the local residents in the mountainous district.

Launching the movement for Mastuj-Broghil road construction, Tehreek president Syed Mukhtar Ali Shah advocate, Liaqat Ali, Sahib Irfan, Akhtar Akbar Shad, Kamal and others said that the area and people lagged behind in development and prosperity due to the poor infrastructure in the hilly region. They said that the government had always ignored their area due to which the local residents were faced with a host of problems.

They said that the area from Mastuj to Broghil was important in terms of geostrategic as well as its economic vitality but the successive governments had neglected it.Liaqat Ali said that it was the best and easy route for the traders of Central Asian states and Hajj pilgrims from that region besides possessing a treasure trove of mines and minerals, which would usher in a new era of development and prosperity if explored and exploited along modern lines.

He said that the area had vast reserves of minerals but it could not be explored and utilised due to non-existence of roads and other transportation facilities.Sahib Irfan talked about the vast tourism potential in the area, saying that local youths could get employment if this sector was developed. He said that two tracks existed in Yarkhun valley for the tourists and it can lure more visitors if the communication and infrastructure was developed.

Agriculturist Akhtar Akbar Shad said that the area could produce the best quality of fruits, including apples, peaches, pears, cherries and others if the growers were facilitated.The people faced hardships while shifting their patients, particularly women to hospitals in case of emergencies, said Kamal.He added that doctors and paramedics also hesitate to come to the area due to poor infrastructure.