Authorities plan 48 checkposts on Thall-Parachinar road

PESHAWAR: Authorities have decided to establish 48 checkposts along the Thall-Parachinar Road to secure the communication link in the Kurram tribal district, according to official documents.

The government will request funds for these checkposts, which will be manned by police.

The Home Department KP will ask the federal government to set up the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cyber Wing in Parachinar, the district headquarters of Kurram.

To bolster safety on the Thall-Parachinar Road, a special force comprising 399 retired servicemen will be formed and placed under the supervision of the district police officer.

Authorities are considering purchasing weapons from residents, with a dedicated desk to expedite the issuance of weapon licenses.

In line with a decision by the Apex Committee, all bunkers in Kurram will be dismantled by February 1, with support from the police and district administration.

Weapons will be collected and digitally documented by the end of the month under the district administration’s oversight.

Meanwhile, tensions in the district have stalled work on 17 development projects, official sources revealed.

These include major roadworks on the Thall-Parachinar, Hangu-Salarzai, and Thall-Mir Ali roads, as well as projects related to school upgrades, bridges, and energy infrastructure.

The estimated cost of repairing and dualizing these roads is Rs 25 billion. However, ongoing tensions have delayed progress despite initial preparations. Documents show that Rs 100 million of the Rs 350 million allocated by the KP government has been utilized so far.

Speaking to Geo News, Israr Ahmad, Secretary for Communications and Works, confirmed that construction work would resume once the situation normalizes. “Improving the Thall-Parachinar Road and two other highways aims to promote tourism in the area,” he explained.

Shahidullah Khan, Secretary for Planning and Development, assured that funds for the Kurram projects remain available. “Construction work will begin as soon as the issues are resolved,” he stated confidently.