KHAR: A bridge in Bajaur Agency’s Barang tehsil, connecting the region with Malakand Agency, has finally been reconstructed after six years.

The bridge which was destroyed by flash floods in 2010 was formally opened to traffic on Friday.

PML-N MNA from Bajaur Agency Shahabuddin Khan inaugurated the bridge at a ceremony in Sharbati area of the tehsil.

On the occasion, Mr Khan congratulated the people of Barang over inauguration of the bridge which would ease their suffering while accessing other areas.

He said reconstruction of the bridge had been the longstanding demand of the people as it was the only way to connect them with neighbouring Malkand Agency. He said it was regretting that work on the bridge started in 2011, but could not complete on time. He said he would find out the causes why the project had been delayed for such a long time, and take serious action against those responsible.

The lawmaker called for a proper monitoring system to ensure transparent and timely completion of the ongoing development schemes in the agency.

The MNA said the federal government was focusing on uplift of backward areas which had been ignored in the past. He claimed to have initiated a plan to allocate his mandatory development funds to backward and remote parts of the agency.

Mr Khan claimed that the federal government had allocated over Rs15 billion for Fata in the ADP 2015-16, but only Rs5 billion had been spent while rest lapsed which showed lack of capacity of the relevant officials.

Talking about reforms in the tribal areas, the MNA said FCR would be replaced with the country’s regular laws and the people would hear good news in this connection soon.

He said religious and nationalist parties and some tribal elders had been trying to sabotage the reforms process, but they would not succeed as majority of tribal people were in favour of such changes.

On the occasion, relevant officials told the MNA that the bridge was completed at a cost of Rs120 million, adding funds were provided by the federal government. The officials said reconstruction of bridge was had delayed due to shortage of funds.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2016