CJP Nisar takes notice of Lowari Tunnel closure

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar has taken notice of the closure of Lowari Tunnel and summoned reports from the secretary communications, chairman National Highway Authority (NHA) and chief secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in five days. 

The notice was taken on an application of residents of Chitral, who complained that the tunnel has been completed but still most of the time it is kept shut and only opened for few hours which not only causes traffic jam but also creates trouble for locals, according to a report of state radio.

Erstwhile prime minister Nawaz Sharif had inaugurated the tunnel on July 20, 2017.

Work on the Lowari Tunnel project resumed during the tenure of the then military ruler retired General Pervez Musharraf in 2005 but the project hit snags owing to the lack of funds during the five-year tenure of the Pakistan People’s Party from 2008 to 2013.

The previous PML-N government allocated about Rs23 billion for the mega project to complete it.