225 ft long bridge completed by SRSP inaugurated
By: Gul Hamaad Farooqi
Chitral, November 2: A suspension bridge completed by Sarhad Rural Support Program (SRSP) at Sweer village to connect Sweer, Jinjiratkoh, Ursoon etc with Drosh was inaugurated today. The length of the bridge is 225 feet which was completed with financial support of Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF). On the occasion of its inauguration a simple but prompt ceremony was held at Sweer village some 60 KM from here under the chair of Deputy Commissioner Ameenul Haq.
Addressing to the ceremony prominent social worker Master Muhammad Ali Khan said that in past thousands of people were compelled to travel to hospital, Schools, colleges or market via Osiak Bridge by travelling more than 1 hour but now after completion of Sweer bridge we can reach Drosh town in 10 minutes only. He said that this was long awaited demand of the people because during flood people cannot cross Osiak road.
District Program Manager of SRSP Tariq Ahmad said that the bridge was completed with total cost of 10.8 million with (2.1 million) 20% share of local community which definitely will bring positive changes in lives of thousands of people of the area.
Chief Executive officer SRSP Shahzada Masoodul Mulk stressed upon the people to determine principles and rules for crossing the bridge so as to save it from damaging. He said that if heavy traffic were passes away by this bridge it will cause for damaging of the bridge. He said that SRSP working in different developmental schemes from South Waziristan to Chitral including Malakand division. He emphasized on local people to must protect of this bridge because this is moral obligatory and responsibility of local people to protect it.
Chief guest Deputy commissioner thanked and highly appreciated contribution of SRSP in development of Chitral who work shoulder by shoulder with state running agencies. He said that a large number of timber were seen lying in front of this bridge which might be causing for harming the bridge if shifted it over this bridge. He said that local people should to determine SOP with proper counseling so as to ban heavy traffic and timber transportation through this bridge. He assured of solving problems of these backward area.
