Pulwama, July 3: Residents of Pakharpora are demanding that their area should be merged with Pulwama district and should be cut-off from Budgam. 
 “Pulwama town is very close to Pakharpora as compared to Budgam,” locals said.
 Pakharpora is a historical place with the shrine of Sufi saint from central Asia Syed Ali Aali Balkhi (RA) located there. Thousands of devotees visit the shrine every year.
 The distance from Pakharpora to Budgam is more than 50 kilometres, while the distance between Pakharpora to Pulwama is only 20 kilometres. This is the biggest reason for locals demanding the merger of the town with Pulwama.
 “There are some villages around Pakharpora like Sangarwani, Wasenmarg, and Kadipora, which are a part of district Pulwama, then why are we with Budgam?” asked Nazeer, of Pakharpora.
 People of Pakharpora have many times appealed the successive regimes to merge the town with the Pulwama district, but so far no one has paid any heed towards their demand.
 “Topographically Pakharpora including some neighbouring villages like Chardipora, Sekherpora, Karpora cha and Yousmarg are located in Pulwama district,” they added.
 Residents of Pakharpora went on a month long strike in 2009 demanding merger of their area with Pulwama district. “We were assured by the Finance Minister and senior National Conference leader Abdul Rahim Rather that our demand will be considered soon but till date nothing has been done,” locals said.

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