CHITRAL: Traders of Chitral have threatened to agitate against the government`s failure to open the Lowari tunnel to public transport after the closure of the Lowari top road due to heavy snowfall.

President of Tajjir Union Chitral Habib Hussain Mughal said local traders would march on the tunnel after four days to force the government into opening it.

He flayed the federal government for turning a deaf ear to the local residents` repeated requests for the opening of the tunnel after the closure of the Lowari top road due to heavy snowfall. Deputy Commissioner of Chitral Shoaib Jadoon said the National Highway Authority had decided to open the tunnel to the traffic for three days after every fortnight.

`The tunnel opening schedule will come into force next week,` he said.