GHALANAI: The people of Khwezai, Biazai, Musakhel and Essakhel tribes have demanded of the government to launch development projects and reopen the Pak-Afghan trade route in the border area of Khwezai and Biazai.

The demand was made by tribal elders while talking to mediapersons at Mohmand Press Club here on Friday.

On this occasion, the tribal elders assured their cooperation to the administration and security forces in maintenance of law and order in the border area.

Ahmad Khwezai said that the trade route of Gursal with Afghanistan had been closed from the last eight years due to which the trade and business activities remained at standstill in the tribal region.

`There are no high schools for boys and girls in Khwezai and Biazai areas due to which many students have left education after passing their middle class exams,` said Ahmad Khwezai.

Fazle Khalig demanded of the government to allow the NGOs and others to start development projects in the border areas.

Nader Manan said that there was acute shortage of drinking water therefore solar system based water supply schemes should be sanctioned for the area. He said that peace had been restored in the area and therefore the government should now restart development activities in the area.

He said that thousands of houses were demolished in the militancy and the affected tribesmen should be compensated. He also said that most of the area needed health and education facilities besides sufficient staff in the existing facilities.

Another elder said that the rural health center in Atta bazaar lacked doctors and other staff. He said that even emergency patients were taken to Ghalanai and Peshawar hospitals.

He said that the border area had a big population, but there was not a single equipped health centre which could provide the patients with sufficient treatment. He said that Mohmand Agency had vast borders with Afghanistan therefore the area should be included in CPEC.

Meanwhile, the political administration sanctioned monthly stipends for local poets of Mohmand Agency. In this regard, political agent Mahmood Aslam Wazir handed over the stipend to the convener of local poets, Wisal Mohmand, here at his of fice on Friday. Correspondent