CM aide hails relief efforts in Swat

PESHAWAR: Adviser to Chief Minister on Tourism and Culture Zahid Chanzeb has appreciated the role of the departments of relief and tourism, district administration, rescue and security agencies for reopening the Bahrain-Kalam highway for traffic and evacuating tourists and local people through an alternative route.

An official statement issued here said that people had been stuck for hours due to landslides on the road. The advisor also expressed the confidence that the highway would be fully rehabilitated and widened for traffic at Asrit, beyond Bahrain, where more landslides have occurred.

Chanzeb said that heavy machinery was being used to remove the landslide debris from the highway at Asrit, widen it and protect it from the erosion of River Swat. He said that rehabilitation work was being done diligently under the supervision of the authorities.

He further hoped that the highway would be completely restored by Monday morning and would be widened enough for heavy traffic and tourist flow. He further clarified that the tourists could travel to any hill stations and tourism spots with confidence as all the relevant agencies are working round the clock to facilitate them.