SWAT: The local people and Kalam Hotel Association started construction work under their support against non-construction of the flood-damaged road in Kalam Valley, a tourist destination of Swat district here on Monday.
Frustrated with the government’s inattention, the locals of Kalam valley have started their own construction work to reduce the difficulties in the traffic of tourists.
The elders of Kalam and Hotel Association officials have started construction work on Kalam Road in large numbers and demanded from the government that Kalam should be developed to promote tourism and reduce problems in people’s movement.
Kalam Hotel Association President Abdul Wadud, former Tehsil Nazim Habibullah Saqib, ANP leader Dr. Shah Khan, PTI leader Asif Shehzad, Nasrullah Saqib, Syed Nabi and other elders talking to the media that we have raised our voice at every forum for the construction of the Kalam road which was destroyed by the disastrous flood on 26 August 2022, but the government is not missing out. Therefore, we were forced to decide to start the construction work on the Kalam Road with our help so that the difficulties of the tourists and local people can be solved and the tourism sector is not harmed.
They said that we do not have enough resources which are required for the construction of the road but we have no other way left. Because due to the dilapidation of this road, the tourism of Kalam is badly affected and tourists are avoiding coming to Kalam.
They expressed fear that if there is another flood or any other natural calamity, then more difficulties will be faced.
Therefore, the government should immediately start the construction work on the Kalam road so that the people and tourists of the area do not face any travel problems.
They further said that despite the passage of two years, Kalam Road is in a dilapidated condition. Due to which local people and tourists are facing severe problems and majority of tourists go back due to bad roads.
“The loss of tourism and unemployment has increased to an alarming extent and warned if the Kalam road is not constructed immediately and we restore this road with your help, then no vehicle with an official (Green) number plate will be able to ply on this road.” They said.
The elder said that the rift between the federal and provincial governments is regrettable and we demand the current government to take immediate steps to construct the Kalam Road and save tourism from destruction added that if the construction work is not started on Kalam Road, we will come out on the streets widening the scope of the protest and will continue the protest until the construction work is started on Kalam Road and for this purpose. “We will not hesitate to make any sacrifice to achieve it,” They concluded.
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