PDP President and Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today exuded confidence that with the construction of the ambitious tunnel on the Mughal Road Shopian and adjoining areas would become hubs of economic activity and social connectivity.Addressing the Party workers of the district here today, the PDP President said ever since the Mughal Road was constructed during the Party’s previous regime, it brought Shopian into limelight as a point of interface between Kashmir and Jammu regions in terms of people’s movement and trade. She said now with the construction of a tunnel on the road, Mughal Road would become an alternative all weather road connectivity between the two regions of the State. She said Shopian being the connecting spot for the two regions would get all the more attention in terms of boost in economic activity and social interactions.Mehbooba Mufti said Shopian being the producer of some quality strains of Apples would have greater market accessibility for selling its produce once the tunnel on Mughal Road is completed. She said already an independent Tourist Development Authority for Shopian has been constituted and once the tunnel becomes through would give a big push to the tourist circuit in the region comprising Dubjan, Hirpora, Peer ki Gali and other tourist spots in the area.
The Chief Minister said many other major projects like Bijbehara- Shopian road and Kandi Shopian-Mughal Road have been conceived for the development of the Shopian district which would give the area better connectivity besides pacing up its economic activities.Party’s candidate for Anantnag Parliamentary constituency, Mufti Tassaduq Hussain in his address advocated the need for active engagement with the youth of the Valley. He said unfortunately the local youth have been caught in a maze of despondency and desolation which, he said, ought to be removed by addressing their pain and sufferings.Mufti Tassaduq said tourism and cottage industries in the State need to be reoriented lest the unique nature of these sectors is lost in the mad rush of commercialization.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Spokesperson of the Party, Dr. Mehboob Baig said National Conference has deviated from the agenda on which it was supposed to work and that is why all the right thinking people have opted for PDP for redressal of their grievances. He said the present leadership of Congress Party also lacks vision and leadership and that is why people of the country and State have rejected them.Senior leader and Minister for CAPD, Choudhary Zulfkar; MLA, Shopian, Muhammad Yousuf Bhat; MLA, Wachi, Aijaz Ahmad Mir and MLC, Zaffar Iqbal Manhas also addressed the gathering and asked workers to work for ensuring victory of Mufti Tassaduq Hussain with huge margin in the forthcoming elections.Other leaders who were present on the occasion included MP, Fayaz Ahmad Mir; MLA, Rafiabad, Yawar Dillawar Mir, President, Youth wing, Waheed ur Rehman Parra and former MLA, Abdul Razaq Zawoora. (KNS)