Nawa Pass route to be opened soon: NA told

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Malik Amad Khan on Friday told the National Assembly that Chitral-Nawapass (Afghanistan) route would be opened in a couple of days.

He was responding to a Calling Attention Notice of Shahzada Mohiuddin, Dr Abdul Kadir Khanzada and Mohammad Nawaz Allai about closure of passage of Chitral resulting in difficulties to thousands of stranded passengers in Peshawar and Chitral causing grave concern amongst the public.

The minister said after the closure of Lowari Pass in winter season a permission is sought from the government of Afghanistan for use of Arandu-Nawa pass route. He said this year the issue was also raised with Afghanistan but due to security situation on the border the route was not safe for journey and therefore permission was not granted.

He said now the Afghan government has given the permission of using Chitral-Nawa pass route, therefore, the route would be opened for traffic within a couple of days.

Minister for Communication Arbab Alamgir Khan told the National Assembly that tunneling of Lowari Tunnel has been through but for the time being people cannot use the tunnel as heavy machinery is still moving there. However, the issue would be raised with the concerned construction firm to make it possible for journey.

He said Lowari tunnel is a project of national importance which was started by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. He said the completion date of the project is September 2010.

Shahzada Mohiuddin asked the chair to take up the issue with Afghanistan Foreign Minister in his upcoming visit to Pakistan that the people of Chitral be allowed to bring essential commodities with them from Afghanistan as they are facing server shortage of essential commodities there.--APP