CHITRAL has a great economic potential. Those who live here depend on agricultural products like wheat, maize, rice and potato. Fruits grown in this area are apple, pear, apricot, walnut, mulberry, pomegranate and persimmon. By and large, crops are grown for self-consumption.

The government has opened branches of Zarai Taraqiati Bank to make it easy for peoplr to obtain agricultural loans.

In winter, for six months Chitral is cut off from the country owing to heavy snowfall on the Lowari pass, the only route one can take to reach Chitral. Last year on July 17, a massive flood struck Chitral, damaging crops, infrastructure and homes and injuring more than 100 people.

Moreover, the earthquakes damaged the hydroelectric power-houses plunging the entire area into darkness. The various bridges that connect different valleys were also destroyed.

The prime minister did visit the area twice. During his first visit he waived off agricultural loans, but just after the PM’s visit the bank issued letters for the recovery of loans. Now the bank is not giving any loans.

Ali Fateh

Booni, Chitral

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2016