Pinjra Bridge: folk singer’s melodious plea melts Kakar’s heart

QUETTA: In an unexpected and heartening turn of events, the interim Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar has responded to a Balochistan folk singer’s unconventional and invented plea of reconstruction of Pinjra Bridge. The caretaker PM pledged support and quick action to resolve the long-standing issue.

Gul Mir Jamali, a local vocalist hailing from Balochistan, composed a heartfelt song appealing to the interim PM for the restoration of the vital Pinjra Bridge. The singer’s melodious verses, shared in a viral video on X by a self-described Member of the Provincial Worker Committee NP Guhram Shareef, resonate with the sentiments of the locals.

PM Kakar also responded through his social media account.

He wrote, “Orders have been issued to the concerned institutions for the reconstruction of Panjara Bridge. Very soon this long-standing problem of the people of Balochistan will be solved. God willing”.

HISTORY

Pinjra Bridge is situated in the Qila Abdullah district of Balochistan and holds immense significance for the region. The bridge serves as a primary land link connecting Quetta and vast swathes of Balochistan with Sindh and Punjab provinces. It was severely damaged last year during floods triggered by relentless rains. This unfortunate event led to the suspension of crucial traffic between Balochistan and the rest of the country.

Despite the passage of more than a year, the National Highway Authority (NHA) has yet to undertake the bridge’s reconstruction. Adding to the urgency is the recent onslaught of heavy rainfall, which has further eroded the remaining fragments of the bridge, exacerbating the plight of the local populace.

The absence of the bridge has not gone unnoticed by political figures and Kakar is not the first PM to have promised its reconstruction. Last year, former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took cognizance of the issue, prompting the Chairman of NHA to pledge prompt reconstruction during an on-site visit. However, the promised restoration is still pending, leaving the community in a prolonged state of uncertainty.

The ramifications of the bridge’s absence have been felt deeply. Balochistan relies significantly on the provinces of Sindh and Punjab for food commodities, and the bridge’s destruction has resulted in hundreds of trucks laden with crucial supplies stranded in the Bolan valley.

In an attempt to mitigate the situation, the district administration opted for makeshift pathways for the stranded vehicles, employing bulldozers and temporary mudstone roads. However, the continuous barrage of floods and rainfall continues to undo these efforts.

As Gul Mir Jamali’s melodious plea gains traction and resonates with a wide audience, it underscores the urgency of the situation and the pressing need for swift and concerted efforts to restore the Pinjra Bridge. The impassioned appeal serves as a poignant reminder of the vital role infrastructure plays in the lives of the people it serves.