UPPER DIR: A solar streetlight system has started functioning in Dir Khas, the district headquarters of Upper Dir district, and the residents of Dir have expressed their joy and excitement over its installation and functioning. A total of Rs 30.5 million had been approved for the project. Solar lights were installed on the main Dir- Peshawar Road in the jurisdiction of Dir town from Gargo Khwar pul to the deputy commissioner’s office. Residents of Dir Khas said they were very happy over the installation of the solar system because it had provided them a big facility of light without any interruption by load shedding. They said that they would not face any difficulty to walk on the road at night. Because, they said, that before the installation of the solar lights they had been facing a lot of problems and difficulties to walk on the road and especially for women it was very difficult to go on the road at night. Muhammad Ali, a shopkeeper by profession, said that he was very happy with the solar lights because he would not face any difficulties to go home from the shop late at night, adding that when the lights had not been installed the people had to face extreme difficulties to go in the darkness. Apart from that there was a fear of being bitten by dogs that were wandering freely on the road and the streets. Residents have started night walks at night on the road after the solar lights installation. Not only youngsters but old age people also come out from their homes and like to walk under the lights. Muhammad Zubair, a resident of Dir, said that he did not believe that it was his old city because his city used to be in darkness after evening and now the city was shining at night. “I am feeling like walking into the city of Paris not Dir”, he expressed his joy and excitement in a dreamy manner. The watchmen of various bazaars and markets of Dir city also breathed a sigh of satisfaction and said that they were doing their duty more easily because they were watching everything very clear from a far away distance. People of Dir town are now hopeful that accidents of robberies and other illegal activities would end or would at least be reduced. Residents of Dir Khas said that they appreciated the efforts of the elected representatives from the constituency for installing solar lights and giving them relief from load shedding as they demanded of the MPA and MNA to give other issues and problems of Dir Upper their attention and solve the same on a priority basis.