Helicopter service launched in Kurram to ensure safe movement amid rising tensions

PESHAWAR: In view of the tense situation in the tribal district of Kurram in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and to facilitate the movement of citizens, Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has directed to start a helicopter service.

According to reports, the provincial government was already using the helicopter to address the shortage of medicines in the area.

A total of 147 people were airlifted by the provincial government’s helicopter service on Sunday, including jirga members, patients, students, government employees and other citizens.

The first flight on Sunday transported 15 people from Peshawar to Parachinar, including jirga members and government officials. After this, the helicopter made three flights from Parachinar to Tal, transporting 87 people and also bringing 15 people from Tal to Parachinar. The last flight of the day transported 30 people from Parachinar to Peshawar.

Similarly, 53 people were transported from Parachinar to Peshawar on Saturday. A total of 200 people were airlifted by provincial government helicopters in the last two days.

To address the shortage of medicines in the area, the provincial government has already sent seven helicopter flights to Kurram, carrying medicines worth over Rs 60 million.

In a statement, the Chief Minister said that the provincial government fully understands the difficulties faced by the people of Kurram due to the closure of land routes and is mobilizing all available resources to overcome these challenges. He added that the provincial government is making serious efforts to find sustainable solutions to the problems in Kurram and to address the problems of the local population on a permanent basis.