Lamnian, Jhelum Valley — Residents of Sharyan Sain Bagh, Reshiyan, and surrounding areas in Jhelum Valley are facing persistent difficulties due to the absence of mobile phone and internet services, prompting local elders and community representatives to demand an immediate technical survey and installation of new communication towers.
Despite living in an era where digital connectivity is considered a basic necessity, large sections of the population in these areas remain completely disconnected from mobile networks and internet access. The lack of communication facilities has severely affected daily life, particularly for students, journalists, business owners, and families maintaining contact with relatives living abroad.
Local residents, including Khawaja Muhammad Ismail, Raja Yasir Khan, Qazi Aziz Ahmed, Khawaja Shabbir Ahmed Pirzada, Khawaja Imtiaz Ahmed, Qazi Mumtaz Ahmed, Chaudhry Muhammad Sadiq, Khawaja Manzoor Ahmed, Qazi Abdul Latif, and others, told reporters that the absence of mobile coverage in Sharyan Sain Bagh has significantly disrupted educational activities, making access to online education virtually impossible.
They stated that students are unable to attend online classes, download academic materials, or communicate with teachers, placing them at a serious disadvantage compared to learners in other parts of the region. Journalistic work and business operations have also been badly affected, limiting access to information, markets, and digital financial services.
“In today’s world, internet and mobile connectivity are no longer luxuries; they are basic necessities,” residents said. “Unfortunately, our area continues to be deprived of these essential services, leaving us isolated and disconnected.”
Community members have urged Deputy Commissioner Jhelum Valley, Ms Bansh Jarral, the Sector Commander of the Special Communications Organization (SCO) Muzaffarabad, senior Information Technology authorities, and the Chief Secretary of Azad Jammu and Kashmir to take urgent notice of the issue. They have called for Sharyan Sain Bagh to be immediately included in a survey for the installation of new mobile towers, emphasizing that the problem has persisted for many years without any tangible progress.
Residents warned that continued neglect of the issue would have serious consequences for the area’s economic growth, educational development, and social integration. They stressed that poor connectivity has already limited employment opportunities, hindered local entrepreneurship, and deepened the digital divide between rural and urban areas.
Public circles expressed hope that the district administration and relevant institutions would demonstrate seriousness and take prompt and practical measures to resolve the issue. Locals believe that restoring mobile and internet services would not only ease daily hardships but also help integrate Sharyan Sain Bagh into the broader development framework of the region.
For the residents, reliable communication services are not merely about convenience but about access to education, economic opportunity, and social inclusion — rights they say should be equally available to all citizens, regardless of geography.
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