CHITRAL: The people of Broghil valley have demanded of the government to provide a proper road facility to their long-marginalised valley, which has left them unable to walk the distance of hundreds of kilometres in this advanced age.

Speaking at a press conference at the Chitral Press Club on Thursday, Umer Rafi, Ghulam Nabi, Taj Ali Baig, Alam Baig, Mir Aziz, S Mukhtar Ali Shah, and other valley elites stated that because of its close proximity, the trade caravans from Central Asia continued to use this route to reach India until the early 20th century.

They regretted that the after the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia in 1917, the route was abandoned completely, throwing the people of this belt into misery and backwardness who were suffering it till now.

According to the valley’s residents, the Broghil valley was special in many respects. It was home to lakes, glaciers, meadows, and minerals, and it had amazing tourism potential that, when properly utilised, might boost the national economy.

They said that they had now launched a full-fledged movement for the road facility for their valley and would go to any extent of protest for it while they also supported the similar effort of their adjacent valley of Yarkhoon.

The residents of Broghil valley also demanded of the completion of the building of grain godown of the food department in the area where work had been abandoned and in the absence of this facility, they faced food insecurity.

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2024