Shangla (By Aftab Hussain)
Citizens of Chakesar Tehsil in Shangla District staged a strong protest at Chakesar Chowk against the alleged use of substandard materials and sluggish pace of work on two major road construction projects.
Protesters criticized the construction companies working on the Karoora–Chakesar and Dandai–Chakesar roads, accusing them of compromising on quality despite the allocation of huge government funds.
Speakers at the demonstration said that after years of neglect, road construction in Chakesar had finally begun, but the poor and low-quality work was unacceptable. They declared that “the public will not allow billions of rupees of development funds to go to waste.”
The protesters demanded immediate suspension of substandard work and called upon the relevant departments to ensure strict adherence to approved engineering standards. Local elders and public representatives jointly gave a one-week deadline to the concerned authorities to rectify the issues, warning that a widespread public movement would be launched otherwise.
Participants emphasized that their protest was non-political and solely in the interest of the local community, aimed at ensuring durable and safe infrastructure for future generations.
They also urged the provincial government to initiate a transparent inquiry and take stern action against the contractors and officials responsible for negligence and poor performance.
