MINGORA: People here are divided over bifurcation of Swat district after Chief Minister Pervez Khattak made an announcement in this regard in his recent political gathering at Madyan here.

One group, which wants a new district mainly for the people belonging to upper Swat, says that bifurcation will ease the burden on lower Swat and a fresh wave of development will start in each and every sector.

The opposite group is of the opinion that bifurcation will only divide the people and affect the cultural sanctity of the region. The latter group, however, demands of the provincial government to hold a referendum over bifurcation of Swat.

MPA Haider Ali Khan, who supports a new district, says it is not only the desire of the people of upper Swat, but also the need of the day as the area population has surged to 2.3 million, which means that Swat is the third largest populated district in the province.

He says that there is a huge burden of traffic on the roads of Mingora and it always takes hours to reach courts, hospitals and other offices in Saidu Sharif and the new district will solve this problem for the people of Swat.

Mohamamd Sher Khan, a local PML-N leader from Matta tehsil, endorses the idea of new district and says that people of Matta tehsil face multiple problems when they come to Mingora and Saidu Sharif. He suggests that Nalo area be made the headquarters of new district as it is located in the middle of Matta and Khwazakhela tehsils.

However, PML-N leader and Swat district nazim Mohammad Ali Shah says that there are many other issues in the district which must be resolved and bifurcation of Swat is not an issue. He said that bifurcation would not bring development. In this regard he cited the example of Kohistan, saying that people of all its three districts were more marginalised and underdeveloped then before.

He said that the huge money which would be spent on the establishment of a new district could be diverted to construction of new roads, colleges and hospitals, which would resolve all issues of the people.

ANP district president Sher Shah says that dispute among the people over headquarters of upper Swat should be resolved before any decision on the new district. Former MPA Rehmat Ali Khan says that those trying who find development in bifurcation should first divide Peshawar and Mardan districts.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2017