by Tahir Ali

 

CHAKDARA, May 11 (Gwadar Pro) – As connectivity has become a defining feature of modern economy, linking infrastructures is transforming Chakdara town of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) into an advanced unban area creating sustainable economic development and high quality of life.

 

Geographically speaking, Chakdara is located on the bank of the Swat River on the border of the Lower Dir district with Malakand and Swat districts of KP. Chakdara has the remains of Gandhara grave culture, Buddhist sites and Hindu Shahi forts. The ancient route from Afghanistan via Nawa Pass (Kunar), Bajaur and Dir passed through Chakdara.  

 

 

The 160-kilometer Swat-Motorway (M-16), has connected Chakdara city with Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway (M-1) bringing it closer to the rest of the country. All tourists going either to Swat or Upper Dir and Chitral pass through Chakdara.  

 

The Government of KP has completed feasibility of 13 mega projects for the upcoming 10th Pak-China Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting. Amongst them, four transport infrastructure and energy projects are related to Chakdara. 

 

Swat Expressway Phase-II is one of the proposed projects, which is an 82-kilometer long motorway between Chakdara and Fatehpur area of Swat. The project will connect Swat valley with the rest of the country via Chakdara. 

 

CPEC Western Route Chitral-Chakdara-M1 is another proposed connectivity project linking Chitral, the northernmost district of KP, with Chakdara. The length of the proposed Motorway is 214 kilometer. The Chitral motorway will join Swat Expressway at Chakdara to reach Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway (M1) at Karnal Sher Khan Interchange close to RSEZ.

 

 

Zubair Shah is a manager of JS Bank Chakdara branch. According to him, people are moving their businesses to Chakdara, which is evident from the growing number of his clients. “Anticipating great business opportunities, leading banks of the country are establishing their branches in Chakdara,” he told Gwadar Pro. 

 

Naveed Iqbal, a real estate consultant, said property prices in Chakdara have doubled over the past two years and are increasing further over time. “I foresee that major Pakistani builders will come to establish housing societies in Chakdara,” he said and adding that, “CPEC projects would not only transform Chakdara into a modern city but will also change the fate of the entire region”.

 

Professor Asghar Khan, who teaches sociology at Swat University, told Gwadar Pro that connectivity is increasing interactions, productivity, completion and market opportunities between regions leading to economic growth. “Since connectivity has always facilitated trade and economic growth, if the proposed CPEC projects are carried out, Chakdara will surely become the corporate headquarters of the Malakand division,” he said.