CHITRAL, May 12: Federal Minister for Social Welfare and Special Education Zubaida Jalal inaugurated the Kalash culture centre – Kalasha Dur – in Bumburate here on Friday.

Speaking on the occasion, she said Kalash culture was unique in every respect and it was a beautiful part of the chequered cultural canvas of the country. “Its preservation is our prime duty,” she maintained.

Stressing the need for promoting education in the area, she said only education could enable the primitive people of the Kalash tribe to keep pace with time while holding fast to their cultural values and entities.

She observed that Pakistan was home to many great cultures and civilizations and Kalash culture was one of them.

She hoped that construction of the Lowari tunnel would end miseries of the people of the valley and Chitral who remained cut from the rest of the country for more than five months in a year. She said the project would be completed by 2008.

Regarding the Kalash centre, she said it would help preserve the ancient culture. She thanked the Government of Greece and a Greek voluntary organisation for funding and constructing the centre.

She laid stress on community participation and self-motivation which she said could change the lives of poor communities. She promised government support in this regard.

Zubaida Jalal announced several measures for ameliorating the community in fields of health and education, including opening of a higher secondary school and scholarship for 50 girls.

Meanwhile, the five-day spring festival of the Kalash community has started in three valleys of Kalash.