SRSP completed Shelter house at South portal of Lawari tunnel.
By: Gul Hamaad Farooqi
CHITRAL: To facilitate masses especially women folk and children in chilly weather at Lawari top Sarhad Rural Support Program (SRSP) completed 3 shelter house cum waiting rooms including 6 bathrooms for men and women separately on south portal of Lawari tunnel. Col Saqib of Pakistan Army Engineering was chief guest on the occasion of its inauguration at Dir side by cutting the ribbon.
Addressing on the occasion Regional Program Manager SRSP district Dir upper Mir Ajab said it was dire demand of people of Chitral to construct shelter house (waiting rooms) at both sides of the tunnel. He said SRSP completed a sophisticated shelter house at North portal of the tunnel at Ziarat vilage last year and they also arranged waiting room in container at south portal Dir side.
He said that the shelter house was constructed with a cost of 2.7 million from SRSP fund on the special directive of Shahzada Masoodul Mulk Chief Executive officer of SRSP to facilitate women and children of Chitral including male persons.
There are 3 well furnished waiting rooms with separate bath rooms for male and female with heating system inside the waiting room.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Dir Akbar Jalal Chitrali, Additional Assistant Commissioner Drosh Basharat Khan, project Manager of NHA Imdad Hussain, District Program Manager SRSP Chitral Tariq Ahmad, Amir Jamat Islami Maulana Sher Aziz as well as commandants Dir scouts and Bajawar scouts also participated in the inauguration ceremony. The speakers paid rich tribute to SRSP for construction of these shelter houses and highly hailed their contribution for rendering meritorious service to masses. They said that there was no hotel, restaurant or any other facility in front of Lawari tunnel.
As the only land route of Chitral block at Lawari top due to heavy snowfall during winter season and the tunnel open for passengers only 2 days a week. Hence a large number of passengers including women and children were compelled to wait here for hours under open sky on the road in severe cold weather and snowfall in front of Lawari tunnel waiting for opening of the tunnel. They were facing a lot of problems due to no facility for them. So that is why SRSP completed these shelter houses in collaboration with Pakistan Army.
Addressing to the opening ceremony Col Saqib of Pakistan Army Engineering thanked to SRSP for fulfillment of this long awaited demand of people and assure for provision of all possible support to passengers at Lawari top.
A large number of elites from Chitral and Dir were present on the occasion who appreciated SRSP efforts for facilitating the masses.
Gul Hamaad Farooqi C/O Manager bank Islami Main branch Chitral Pakistan phone No (0092) 0943-320737, 0943-316052, 0943-414418 ,03205989602, 03025989602, 03337069572, 03159698446, 03469002167
email: gulhamad@gmail.com,ghfarooqi@rediffmail.com, gulhamaad786@yahoo.co.uk,ghfarooqi@rediffmail.com