Editorial:
Much has been said and written about the historic Pinjra Bridge located in the rugged mountains of the Bolan Valley. The valley links Quetta and most parts of Balochistan with Sindh and Punjab provinces.
Last year, flash floods unleashed by torrential rains swept away parts of the bridge, causing the suspension of traffic between Balochistan and other parts of the country. For more than a year, the National Highway Authority (NHA) is yet to reconstruct the bridge located in the heart of the mountainous Bolan Valley. Now a fresh wave of heavy rainfall also swept away the remaining part of the bridge, which caused the suspension of traffic.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took notice of the non-construction and the Chairman NHA rushed towards the spot last year and assured the reconstruction. Nevertheless, the bridge is yet to be constructed despite repeated assurances.
Hundreds of stranded trucks loaded with food items can always be seen
Thousands of vehicles pass through the bridge on a daily basis. Since Balochistan is dependent on Sindh and Punjab for food supplies and other commodities. Therefore, hundreds of trucks loaded with food items stranded in the Bolan Valley can always be seen.
The weak district administration merely deploy a bulldozer to make a temporary way for the stranded trucks and other small vehicles to cross the bridge. However, floods and torrential rains always wash away temporary mud stones roads.
NHA must ensure its immediate reconstruction
This situation has compounded the problems of the people of Balochistan in general and the passengers traveling on this important highway in particular. The province covers half of the country in terms of area and the NHA has been, in charge of all highways. It is the core responsibility of the NHA to break its criminal silence and ensure immediate reconstruction of the bridge to bring an end to the miseries of people.
