CHITRAL: The intense winter season has triggered a massive “migration” from Chitral, with a significant number of residents, especially well-off families, going to Peshawar, Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

As temperatures in the valley plummet and heavy snow blankets mountain passes, entire villages have begun to wear a deserted look, leaving behind a population predominantly composed of the elderly and those unable to afford to move.

For many well-to-do families, the decision to migrate for three months is an “economic calculation” rather than just a search for comfort.

They contend that the exorbitant cost of fuel, primarily oak wood and other traditional fuels used for heating and cooking during the harsh winters, often exceeded the cost of renting a home or staying in a hotel in the relatively warmer down-country cities.

“The money we would spend on wood and heating in Chitral is instead used to pay rent in places like Peshawar and the twin cities” explained Ghulam Murtaza, a schoolteacher who recently moved his family to a rented house in Rawalpindi.

He said that the cost of daily food items is too lower than that of his village in Upper Chitral which causes saving of a large amount of money which he spends in house rent and travelling.

Hamid Mir, a rural development expert, said the cyclical migration, which usually lasted until March, had become a deeply ingrained reality for the region.

He said that while the affluent moved for comfort and cost-saving, many young men also migrated to seek seasonal employment in the construction and service sectors of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to support their families during the dormant agricultural months.

“The departure of such a large segment of the population leaves local markets and social hubs eerily quiet. In many valleys, mosques and public spaces that are typically vibrant now appear desolate. Social activists note that this “winter freeze” on local life highlighted a lack of winter-resilient industries and infrastructure that might otherwise encourage residents to stay.”

Mr Mir said that the migration was expected to reverse in March as the snow began to melt and the agricultural season approached.

He added that until then, the silent valleys of Chitral remained in a state of hibernation, waiting for the return of their inhabitants who would bring back the resources and energy needed to revive the local economy for the spring planting season.

Published in Dawn, February 3rd, 2026