CHITRAL: Keeping in view the amount of devastation caused due torrential rains followed by subsequent floods in Chitral, the district coordination officer on Friday demanded Rs 16 billion for restoration and reconstruction of infrastructure. DCO Chitral Usama Warraich demanded this while giving a briefing to Advisor to Prime Minister Ameer Muqam, who was on a visit to the flood-affected district. He said that Rs 10 billion were required for construction of government communication infrastructure including links roads, bridges, and government offices, which were washed away in last year floods, while Rs 6 billion for private properties including houses and streets reconstruction. The DCO briefed the PML-N leader that only Rs 744 million were released so far. He apprised Muqam about the relief activities, restoration and reconstruction efforts, availability of funds with the district government and volume of damage to infrastructure. Speaking on the occasion, the PML-N leader expressed sorrows over loss to infrastructure and sympathies with the affected families. He said the prime minister was committed to resolve the problems and miseries of the district, which was why hefty fund was approved for Chitral as compared to other districts of the province. He said Lowari Tunnel was one of the major problems that need to be solved without further delay and the PM himself was monitoring the project. “Last year, Rs 6 billion was allocated for the tunnel while this year Rs 5 billion would be given to ensure its completion,” Muqam added. He said that construction of approach road on both sides of the tunnel, Garam Chishma Road and Bamboret Road, have been included in the federal government projects. He said its completion would solve traffic woes being faced by people of the district. Muqam asked the members provincial assembly from the district to pressurise the federal government for release of Rs 250 million released out of Rs 500 million approved by the federal government for reconstruction of bridges. “I will get the remaining Rs 250 million released,” he assured the MPAs. He said the federal government has considered Chitral as special case and decided to provide electricity, being generated from Golain Gol hydel station, to solve the issues pertaining to power outages. He ensured people of the district that PM’s announcement regarding waiving off agricultural loans would be implemented. MNA Iftikharuddin, MPAs Salim Khan, Bibi Fauzia, district councilor Maghfirat Shah were also present in the briefing.