CHITRAL: Elected representatives from Chitral region have voiced concern about delays in the completion of development projects due to extreme weather conditions.

Local MNA and chairman of the district development advisory committee Abdul Latif told Dawn that he had proposed a change in the current development calendar under which the working season was limited to three to five months a year due to inclement weather.

He said funds were allocated in July for development projects and it took four to five months for the relevant department to complete procedural formalities, including inviting and approval of tenders.

“In November or December, the contractor is given work order for start of work at the site but at that time, the valley receives its first snowfall bringing the temperature tot sub-zero degrees,” he said.

Latif calls for change in ‘development calendar’

The lawmaker added that work began in April but the fiscal year ended by June 30 before which the allocated budget was to be utilised to save it from lapsing at the advent of the new fiscal on July 1.

He said the working season drifted to its fag end when the lapsed budget was restored by the finance department.

Mr Latif said that the delay of at least one year in the completion of the development projects was a matter “taken for granted” here due to inconsistency between the calendar of the fiscal year and the local climatic conditions, while it was a pity that the delay escalated costs.

He said that the current fiscal year calendar was an issue not only for Chitral but it affected alike all hilly districts of the province, including Lower and Upper Dir, Shangla, Swat and Bajaur and many tehsils of Hazara division.

The lawmaker said he was advocating to make MNAs and MPAs from other hilly districts to make a common cause to demand the government to solve the issue.

He said it might not be possible to change the schedule of the fiscal year for some districts but certain arrangements could be made such that the codal formalities for commencement of work on the development projects are made which gave a maximum of working days.

“Lawmakers from other hilly districts are in unison with me regarding the issue and have pledged to take it up at the proper platform for solution,” he said.

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2025