CHITRAL, April 26: Speakers at a seminar here called for steps by the government and the society to use social tools to discourage the rising trend of suicide, especially among young girls.

They pointed out that with the provision of psychotherapy facilities in the district headquarters hospital a large number of affected people could be treated to live a normal life.

Jointly organised by Chitral Press Club and Regional Women Empowerment Project of the AKRSP the other day, the seminar participants discussed reasons for suicides among youth and the measures to check such incidents. The members of civil society organisations, religious leaders and academicians attended the seminar.

The speakers noted that no few reasons could be cited for the rising number of suicides. They said that in most of the cases young girls committed suicide when they failed to come to terms with the circumstances, which were imposed on them against their will.

They said that Chitral society was undergoing transition and the youth often found themselves far behind in different positions, which caused deviation from the normal path. They also said that family disputes, poverty and depression contributed to growing number of suicides.

On this occasion, Dr Inayatullah Faizi, Dr Gulzar Ahmed, Niaz A Niazi and Maulana Habibullah read out their papers. LOWARI TUNNEL:

MNA from Chitral, Shahzada Mohyuddin, has said that work on the Lowari Tunnel project is in full swing and will be completed within the stipulated time.

Speaking to media persons in a telephonic conference from Islamabad on Tuesday, the MNA said that he had apprised Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in a meeting two days ago of apprehensions of people of Chitral concerning the closure of work on the project.

He said that the prime minister made it clear that the funds were being provided for timely completion of the project.

Mr Mohyuddin promised the people that the Lowari tunnel project would be completed as planned. He also called upon the people avoid strikes on this issue.