CHITRAL: The Chitral city and its suburbs are witnessing a good number of beggars coming from the downcountry, thanks to the region’s pleasant weather, ideal peace and tenderheartedness of local people.

Bashir Hussain Azad, a shopkeeper in Shahi Bazaar, told Dawn that for past two decades beggars from Punjab and other parts of the country used to come to the city, but their number increased exponentially with the completion of Lowari tunnel.

He said the pleasant weather of Chitral coupled with ideal peace and tenderheartedness of the locals lured the beggars to come here in large numbers.

Azad said the beggars did not restrain themselves to the town areas but moved to different valleys known as tourist resorts. “One can come across a lot of beggars in Garam Chashma, Kalash valleys, Booni, Golen and Sheshi Koh.”

He said no local person had ever been seen begging alms from people, but they were liberal in giving charity to beggars.

Regarding the number of beggars entering the district this year starting from May, the social organiser of a charity organisation said it might exceed 1,000 persons, including men, women and children, representing about 200 families.

Requesting not to be named, he said a good number of beggars were young women, who were seen seeking alms even in government offices.

He said in the past when the local people complained about the beggars’ activities in the town, the local administration sent them packing.

He feared that the unemployed persons in Chitral might resort to begging, seeing the non-local beggars receiving alms and collecting heavy amounts on a daily basis.

VILLAGE IN GLOOM: The Mori Payeen village remained in gloom for the third day on Monday following the death of three young men caused when they fell into a stream while repairing a water pipeline damaged in the recent floods.

The villagers complained that the incident occurred due to the indifferent attitude of the government which did nothing to restore the pipeline meant for both drinking as well as agriculture purposes despite their repeated demands.

Gulsambar Khan, Nabi Khan and many others of the village said that grief and sorrow had enveloped all the 250 households in the village after the incident.

Meanwhile, assistant commissioner, Chitral, Alamgir Khan gave away the compensation cheques of Rs300,000 each to the heirs of vicims Afsaruddin, Wasiullah and Inayatur Rahman on behalf of the provincial government.

Published in Dawn, August 6th, 2019