CHITRAL: The residents have flayed the authorities over their failure to reopen the road to Laspur valley of Upper Chitral despite the lapse of over two weeks since the region received heavy snowfall.

Snow avalanches and boulders blocked the road in Istor Deni, Shah Daas and other places, disconnecting the valley from rest of the district.During a protest meeting held in Harchin village on Saturday, the participants announced to boycott the Shandur festival and launch a movement to demerge the valley from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and merge it with GB.

The speakers, including Suharwardi Khan, Uder Ahmed, Sardar Khan, Shah Khan and others, regretted that no work was started to reopen the road, which was closed two weeks ago after the snowfall. They said the residents could not come to the valley on the occasion of Eid due to the closure of the road.

They said the government tended to repair the Shandur Road only before the commencement of thefestival in June every year, while this artery of vital importance was consigned to oblivion during the winter and spring seasons.

`The residents of Laspur valley are of no significance for the government, while the Shandur Road is meant only for the festival, and if this is the case, then we announce to boycott the festival,` they said.

The participants warned that this unfair treatment with the residents of Laspur valley would lead them to launch a mass movement to get this area merged with GB.

They blasted Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Deputy Speaker Suraya Bibi for her `indifferent` attitude to the sufferings of her voters, and said she did notbother to visit the areas to acquaint herself of the problems faced by thousands of people in the two valleys.

Despite repeated efforts, the version of Suraya Bibi could not be obtained as each time, a man attending to the cell told Dawn that she was too busy to talk and would call back once she was free, but no call received from her end till filing of this report.

EID FESTIVAL ATTRACTS TOURISTS: During the Eidul Fitr holidays, the Chitral valley received more tourists than the preceding year.

A local official of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tourism Authority told Dawn that last year, about 7,000tourists visited the valley on Eid, and the number was steadily increasing after the completion of Lowari tunnel a decade ago.

Requesting not to be named, he said the Kalash valley of Bumburate was the major attraction for tourists, while other resorts included Garam Chashma, Birmogh Lasht, Madak Lasht, Kagh Lasht, Golen and Booni.

He said people attached with tourism sector waited throughout the extended winter season for the arrival of tourists to the area, and Eidul Fitr was a boon for them. They said Kagh Lasht festivalwas another occasion coming soon.

Most of the hotels in Chitral city and Bumburate were reportedly filled to their capacity.