ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Senator Azam Khan Swati said Prime Minister Imran Khan was conscious about the problems being faced by the people of Chitral.
Responding to the report of Senator Usman Kakar, Chairman, Functional Committee on Problems of Less Developed Areas, the minister said the federal government intended to bring a big programme for the development of Chitral since the area was close to the heart of prime minister due to its unmatched natural beauty and heritage.
He appreciated the role of Agha Khan Foundation for its social work in the area and said the federal government would develop the area without changing its natural beauty and heritage to attract international tourism.
Earlier, presenting the report senator Usman Kakar said Chitral was the biggest district of the country and the region had a unique culture, language and religion.
He suggested constructing Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) plant in the area to ease the lives of the locals since it was hard for them to live in minus fifteen temperatures in the winter season.
He urged the house to make arrangements to protect the culture and language of the locals.
Senator Javed Abbasi endorsed the view point of senator Usman Kakar and said kalash people should be allowed to live their life according to their belief and values.
Senator Mushtaq Ahmed said the people of Chitral were still waiting for the help to reconstruct their houses, destroyed in the flood of 2015.
He said despite Chitral being the biggest district of the country, people were still living in stone age due to lack of interest of the previous government.
Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed said people of kalash tribe were the bloodline of Alexander the great and the district was located at a very important geographic location bordering three international borders.
Senator Samina Saeed informed the house that first time ever in the history of Pakitan a kalash man had been elected is member provincial assembly of KPK and he had been made chairman of one of the powerful committees of KPK assembly.
She also drew attention of the house towards the upgradation of Chitral airport.
APP