Govt urged to accelerate relief activities in Chitral

PESHAWAR: Former provincial minister and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) district Chitral president Salim Khan on Wednesday asked the provincial and federal governments to expedite relief activities and open Lowari Tunnel.

"The recent severe snowfall has blocked the road leading to Lowari Tunnel and paralysed the life and entire system," he told reporters here. He asked the federal and provincial governments to ensure basic necessities of life, medicines and food for the affected people of Upper and Lower Chitral districts. He also demanded the government to announce relief package for the affected people and also make arrangements for the shifting of stranded passengers from the snow affected areas to safer places. Salim Khan said the people of the affected areas were clearing roads of snow on self-help basis.

The severe cold and snow, he said, had forced the residents to stay indoors as roads and bridges were already closed due to heavy snowfall.