CHITRAL: The Kalash Valleys Development Authority (KVDA) carried out a flurry of activities during the week which included special repair of Kalash valley roads, inauguration of a tourist facility centre and a playground, consultative meeting with different stakeholders and holding of a multi-lingual literary sitting and a cultural show.

The KVDA director general, Minhasuddin, and the board members of the organisation, Sartaj Ahmed Khan, Wazir Zada and Syed Harir Shah, had encamped in the valley to organise and manage the events and activities.

Akram Hussain, a KVDA official, told the local media here on Sunday that the aim of the weeklong activities was to formally launch the activities at large scale and make sure the inclusion of the residents of the valleys in all the processes of development and administration.

He said that taking cognizance of the poor conditions of the valley roads and responding to the public demands, the KVDA, using light and heavy machinery, made hilly and narrow segments of the roads easily passable for vehicular traffic.

He said that the authority had also started formulating strategy to maintain the roads once the repair works was completed, giving a boost to tourism in the valleys as the dilapidated roads discourage tourists.

Mr. Hussain said that the reservations of some of the segments of the society were removed by holding exclusive sessions with them to discuss their demands, concerns and issues in depth as a result the leaders of different organisations including hotel owners expressed their confidence and pledged to contribute positively.

He said that a number of initiatives were being taken to include youth folk in the process of development and a number of projects were started including the inauguration of a playground in Bumburate valley and distribution of sports kits in all the three valleys.

“Responding the longstanding need of the Bumburate valley, a tourist facilitation centre was inaugurated in Krakal village which will help streamline tourism in a comprehensive manner and coordinate the efforts of different stakeholders of tourism sector.

The specially trained tourist guides will be available to the tourists visiting the traditional Kalash homes who will make the hitherto haphazard mode of tourism in the valleys into an organised whole”, he said.

He added that efforts for the preservation of Kalash culture and heritage including primitive ways of life was given a new touch as the KVDA had made elaborate arrangement for study and research and preservation work by holding meeting with a number of institutions including University of Chitral and Kalasha Dur.

The distribution of aid cheques to Kalash students, widows and disabled also formed a part of the activities carried out during the week, he said, adding that a number of measures specific to Muslim communities were also included.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2025