BAN ON CONSTRUCTION:The landowners have threatened to defy Section 144, imposed by the district administration to restrict concrete construction in the ‘red zone’ of Balakot.

“We have no alternative source of income. If ban on construction is not lifted by the district administration, we will be left with no other option but to violate it,” Mubarak Khan told a press conference in Balakot on Wednesday.

Flanked by Haroon Khan, Nawazish Khan, Naseem Khan and others, he said that they would hold rallies against ban on construction.

“People are without basic amenities but the government, instead of providing them facilities, is restricting them from concrete construction,” said Mr Khan.

He said that government had initiated in 2007 a big housing project, New Balakot City, to settle people of the ‘red zone’ but it could not be completed.

He said that people were still living in makeshift houses and shelters in miserable condition. The government should first address their problems, Dawn