The ongoing military operation in Malakand Division has severed Chitral's road link with the rest of the country exposing the local population to numerous problems.The district, which remains cut off from the rest of the country for almost six months due to heavy snowfall, had to bear the brunt of military operation, as all roads leading to Chitral have been closed.
As a result, the prices of essential items have shot up putting extra burden on the already shrinking pocket of the people. Food department officials say that the wheat stocks would exhaust within one week.
Similarly, work on the construction of Lowari Rail Tunnel Project being undertaken by a Korean company has also come to a full stop due to the breakdown of law and order in the area sending shock waves among the locals who have been anxiously awaiting the completion of the project since its launching several years ago.
Similarly, limited PIA flights to Chitral due to inclement weather has also added to the miseries of the locals.
Talking to Daily Times some residents suggested that the PIA flight service for Chitral should be stopped and shifted to Peshawar, as it was of no use to them.
Chustiyar Khan, an NGO worker, said that he was trying to get tickets to shift his family but of no avail. He said earlier he was not able to get tickets due to the visits of VVIPs to the area in connection with Kalasha cultural festival of Chilum Jhusht.
Zafar Iqbal, a government employee, said that a ticket cost a traveler Rs 3,700 and the traveling expenses shot up when one had to hire a cab to reach one's destination or stay at a hotel. He said there was no flight from Peshawar on Saturday to the disappointment of those wishing to reach their destinations.
Habibur Rehman, a transporter, told Daily Times that people from Peshawar were still using Afghanistan and Mohmand-Bajaur-Timergara route to reach Chitral that took around 20 hours instead of 10 hours.
District Nazim Haji Maghfirat Shah told Daily Times that the district government had taken up the roads closure issue with the provincial government and sought relaxation in curfew for some hours during daytime to facilitate the public. He said the people of Chitral were facing shortage of essential commodities and increase in PIA flights was the only solution to their problems.