Delay in road construction triggers protest in Bajaur

KHAR: The residents of Salarzai tehsil in Bajaur staged a protest on Friday against the non-construction of the Haji Lowang to Pashat Road and blocked the main Peshawar-Bajaur highway for several hours.

The demonstrators set tires on fire and stopped all kinds of traffic on the vital route.

Leaders from various political parties, including ANP spokesperson Obaid Salarzai, Syed Siddiq Akbar, PTI’s Luqman Salarzai and PMLN’s Siraj Khan, addressed the protesters. They criticized the three-year delay in the road project, blaming the government for suspending funds and accusing the contractor of mismanagement and non-compliance.

“This road has turned into ruins. And no effort has been made to rebuild it,” said one of the speakers, adding, “It has become a daily torment for the local population.”

According to the protesters, the road connects 11 village councils in Salarzai tehsil and is a lifeline for nearly 200,000 people who rely on it for daily travel. Despite holding multiple meetings with relevant authorities, they said, residents claim their grievances have fallen on deaf ears.

The protesters warned that they would intensify their demonstrations in the coming days if immediate steps are not taken to resume and complete the road construction.