Chitral (July 20, 2017) : Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will visit Chitral today and will inaugurate Lowari Tunnel and other mega projects in the district.
He will also address a public gathering at polo ground in Chitral. Work on the Lowari Tunnel project was re-started during the tenure of General Pervez Musharraf in 2005 but the project faced lack of funding issue during the five-year tenure of the Pakistan People’s Party from 2008 to 2013. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government allocated about Rs23 billion for the mega project to complete the work.
The tunnel is located on Nowshera-Mardan-Malakand-Chakdara-Chitral National Highway (N-45). Inauguration of the 8.5km long tunnel will provide all weather connecting to Chitral with rest of the country. The PC-I cost of the Lowari Tunnel project is about Rs. 27 billion. Scope of the project includes construction of two tunnels (8.5 km and 1.9 Km), access roads and 12 bridges (35 km).
Construction of Lowari Tunnel has been a long standing demand of the people of the area which was neglected in the past. But after coming into government, the prime minister has paid special focus to the project. It would be a gift to the local populace from the democratic government, said a press release.
The project will enhance economic growth through accelerated trade activity, generate employment opportunities for the locals, promote tourism and reduce travel time for passengers of commercial traffic.
Prior to its construction, the area remained cut off from the rest of the country especially during the five months of winter season, multiplying woes of the residents of the area.
The credit for its construction goes to the prevailing federal government which gave priority to the project. Under the direction of the Prime Minister, the up-gradation and construction of motorways and highways was in progress and an amount of Rs1200 billion was being spent on these projects. The vast connectivity is linked with the economic future of the whole region.
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