Educational institutions in Parachinar have been closed for two months, raising concerns about the potential loss of the academic year for students.

The Kurram Teachers Association reported that school reopening is impossible due to road blockages and a severe fuel shortage.

Moreover, teachers’ unions are urging the government to ensure fuel supplies to facilitate the resumption of educational activities.

In protest, schools will remain closed until the roads are reopened, according to teacher’s union.

They emphasized that there is “urgent need to clear routes for the sake of children’s futures, allowing the teaching process to restart.”

The ongoing blockades have not only affected education but have also significantly impacted other sectors in the region.

Local traders reported that business centers and public transport are shut down, while communication systems have also been disrupted.

The Pak-Afghan Kharlachi border and Thall-Parachinar road have been closed for five months, leaving over half a million residents in Parachinar and more than a hundred surrounding villages stranded.

Also, due to roads blockage, people are facing challenges as essential food items are getting scarce in the market as Ramadan is approaching.

Traders highlighted that the road closures are making it challenging for people to acquire necessary goods for sehar (meal eaten by Muslims before fasting during Ramadan) and Iftar (meal eaten by Muslims after sunset to break their fast during Ramadan).

Moreover, the Tora Wari road connecting Lower and Central Kurram has been closed for a week, halting the supply of essential items.

In protest, security forces and police arrested leaders, Haji Karim and Sartaj Ali, of the protest in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kurram and Parachinar, police said on Sunday as search operation was launched on February 22.

On February 1, APP reported that a religious leader, Qari Rizwanullah, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in the Sadda Pir Qoum area.

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