Kargil, Sep 24: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has stressed the need for opening up of Kargil for its better socio-economic development as the area has been denied its right because of political reasons and difficult topography.
 PDP leaders including Altaf Bukhari, party chief spokesperson Naeem Akhter, Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat, Shahnawaz Hussain Mir, Advocate Murtaza, Kachoo Gulzar Ahmad Khan and Najaf Ali were on an extensive tour to Kargil district where they addressed the party workers and sympathizers at various places including Kargil, Sankoo and Tambis in Suru Valley.
 Addressing party workers at Kargil, while terming Zojilla tunnel a vital component of interconnectivity that will usher better economic opportunities for the people of this region, party senior leader, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari recalled that it was during the PDP brief tenure that the tunnel across Zojilla was got sanctioned under the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Program. He said the work on the tunnel should be taken up both from Gumri, Minmarag and Gagangir ends.
 He said the decision to build the tunnel in Kargil is part of the Prime Minister’s package of 2004 in which special care was taken for the people of Ladakh more importantly four laning of Srinagar-Ladakh national Highway and the Zojilla tunnel that will provide all weather connectivity between the region and rest of the country.
 Referring to the India-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ meet that decided to reopen Kargil Skardu traditional road, Bukhari said it has been more than a year now when it was decided by the two countries to start a bus service on this road but unfortunately the decision is yet to be implemented on the ground. “The PDP will agitate the matter both on public level and at administrative level with the Prime Minister,” Bukhari stressed.
 While demanding restoration of Kargil-Skardu bus service without any further delay, he said the area has a historical importance due to its silk route and its connections with the Central Asia could be revived if the people support the PDP.
 Naeem Akhter observed that Kargil has not been exploited in last many decades for its vast tourism potential.  Akhter said Kargil has an extensive tourism potential, especially adventure tourism- trekking, mountain biking, river rafting and a host of other such activities. 

Lastupdate on : Mon, 24 Sep 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 24 Sep 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 25 Sep 2012 00:00:00 IST