By Fazal Amin Shinwari
LANDI KOTAL: Malik Abdul Razzaq Afridi, a tribal elder and member of the Area Representative and Development Council (ARDC) for Khyber District, has underscored the restoration of peace and regional development as his foremost priorities.
Speaking during a visit to the District Press Club Khyber, where Press Club President Aman Ali Shinwari and senior journalist Imran Shinwari received him, Mr. Afridi outlined an agenda focused on addressing public grievances and accelerating local infrastructure projects.
He stated that ensuring law, order, and stability in the region remains critical to unlocking socio-economic progress. “Our primary focus will be on resolving collective public concerns and promoting welfare-oriented development initiatives,” he remarked, adding that concerted efforts would be made at all relevant forums to mitigate the district’s historical backwardness.
Highlighting a pressing infrastructure bottleneck, Mr. Afridi drew attention to the glaring absence of a bridge on the Pakistan-Afghanistan Highway. He noted that heavy rainfall and flash floods frequently disrupt traffic flow, causing severe distress to commuters, patients, transporters, and residents.
Recalling past tragedies in which flash floods claimed lives and swept away cargo vehicles, he called the bridge’s construction an “urgent public necessity.” He added that while relevant authorities had been apprised of the issue multiple times, he would personally pursue the matter with concerned departments to ensure swift execution.
The ARDC member also underscored the enduring relevance of traditional tribal mechanisms, noting that mutual consultation and the jirga system would be leveraged alongside formal governance channels to resolve community disputes and address local challenges.
Concluding his address, Mr. Afridi reiterated his commitment to championing people-centric development packages and bridging the gap between local communities and policymakers to foster long-term prosperity in Khyber District.
