TIMERGARA, Oct 18: A fact-finding committee formed by the provincial assembly on Thursday expressed displeasure at long delay in construction of Balambat irrigation channel in Lower Dir district and said it would soon compile a report on it before sending it the speaker for action.

The committee led by Saqibullah Khan Chamkani and composed of MPAs Mufti Kifayatullah, Sher Shah Khan and Mohammad Zamin on Thursday visited different sites of water channels in Khaima, Jabagai and Walai Kandao areas for examination.

Mr Chamkani later told reporters at Khaima that the irrigation department had misguided the government about water channels as work on them was incomplete but had been shown complete.

The project was designed by the previous government at the cost of Rs800 million to irrigate 1,100 acres of land in Balambat, Khazana, Makhai and Munda areas.

Former provincial minister Sirajul Haq has long been criticising the government for failing to build Balambat irrigation channel over four and a half years.

He also claims that millions of rupees from the project funding have been embezzled.

SHUTTER DOWN STRIKE: Traders in Chakdara area on Thursday observed a complete shutter down strike against the local administration for stopping transporters from picking and dropping commuters at main bazaar.

Anjuman-i-Tajaran Chakdara had given the call for strike.

All markets, bakeries and hotels remained closed in the day.

Traders announced to observe one-hour strike daily until the administration’s move was undone.

Anjuman-i-Tajaran Chakdara president Khawaja Faizul Ghafoor, vice president Ali Bacha and general secretary Akbar Khan told reporters that the ban had stressed out traders of and visitors to the bazaar.

They said the ban had forced people into visiting Batkhela.

The trader leaders also complained that the authorities had promised to build a waiting room at Chakdara bazaar and set up two separate bus stops, but the promise had yet to be fulfilled.