First aid convoy to enter Kurram today after three-month blockade

KOHAT: The first convoy comprising 75 vehicles will enter Kurram district today (Saturday) to deliver vital goods including food items, medicines, and other commodities under tight security.

The development came after the agreement reached between the warring tribes of Kurram, ending an 80-day-long road blockade of the restive region.

Advisor to KP Chief Minister on Information, Barrister Saif said the convoy will enter Kurram through Chapri and travel along the Thall-Parachinar road under the tight security ensured by police and Frontier Corps (FC).

In a statement, a KP government spokesperson said he reached Kohat last night to see off the convoy along with Kohat commissioner, deputy inspector general (DIG), district administration, and police officials.

The convoy includes 22-wheelers, 10-wheelers, and 6-wheeler trucks carrying food items, medicines, gas cylinders, and other goods.

Barrister Saif added that 5 trucks of medicines, 10 trucks of vegetables, 9 trucks of ghee and oil, 5 trucks of flour, 7 trucks of sugar, 2 trucks of gas cylinders, and 26 trucks of other grocery items will be delivered to the “disaster-hit” Kurram district.

On November 21, a convoy was attacked on the Thall-Parachinar road leaving more than 40 people dead. Since then, the road has closed as the unrest escalated in the region claiming hundreds of lives.

Following Wednesday’s peace agreement with both sides, authorities confirmed that the peace committees comprising local elders, local residents, and politicians had been formed in the district.

Earlier, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry stressed that peace committees will ensure the protection of the convoy and adherence to the agreements in place.

The official also said that passenger vehicles are also expected to resume operations in convoy form over the next few days.