CHITRAL, located in the extreme northern part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), is divided into two districts: Lower Chitral and Upper Chitral. The region has a population of approximately 500,000 and experiences freezing winters.

Chitral’s forested area spans around 42,000 hectares, but due to the lack of gas supply mechanism, area residents are forced to chop off trees for their energy needs, leading to significant deforestation.

To cope with the rather harsh winters, the people of Chitral rely very heavily on firewood, with each household consuming an average of 10 maunds of firewood during a single winter season. This amounts to approximately five million maunds of firewood annually for domestic purpose alone, excluding workplace and office consumption.

This high level of firewood consumption is causing severe damage to the region’s already limited forest resources. However, the residents have little choice, as alter-native means of heating are either un-available or unaffordable. While electricity could serve as an alternative to firewood, the high cost of electricity makes it inaccessible to most Chitralis.

To address the issue, the government should provide electricity at subsidised rates, specifically for the people of Chitral. Affordable electricity would significantly reduce the current dependence on firewood, thereby helping to preserve the region’s forests. Additionally, this measure would contribute to environ-

mental sustainability, improve the region’s ecological index, and enhance the overall quality of life for Chitral’s residents.

Dr Farooq Ahmad
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2025