PARACHINAR: All government and private schools will remain closed today (Friday) in Parachinar due to worsening law and order situation in the Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Yesterday, heads of educational institutions announced that all schools in Parachinar, the headquarters of Kurram district will remain closed till the opening of main roads.
The main highway in Kurram district, which borders Afghanistan, has remained closed for over 72 days due to ongoing unrest. The blockade has created a shortage of food and medicines.
Residents have reported critical shortages of basic necessities such as food and medicine as the government struggles to end the ongoing unrest of the tribes over farmland.
Marjan Ali, the head of one of the education institutes, said that due to the closure of roads, every sector of life was affected badly.
He said that the visas and tickets of those overseas Pakistanis who arrived in the area for holidays expired. Many students, stranded due to the blockade, have been unable to return to their institutions.
“People are dying due to the unavailability of medicines, food, and proper medical treatment,” Ali said.
He urged the provincial health minister to take immediate action and provide relief rather than issuing unverified statements.
The ongoing crisis has led to severe shortages in local markets, with essential items like sugar, milk, and gas in short supply. Children’s formula milk is also no longer available in local markets.
Yesterday, aid flights landed in Parachinar to deliver medicine to Parachinar and transport critically ill patients to Peshawar.
The Punjab government has approved the supply of medicines and other necessary items for the people of Parachinar.