CHITRAL: The agricultural backbone of Upper and Lower Chitral districts is facing an existential threat as a ‘three-year freeze’ on government funding has halted the repair and restoration of vital irrigation canals.

Speaking to reporters here on Wednesday, Sharif Hussain, president of the farmers’ association in Lower Chitral, expressed grave concern over the deteriorating state of the region’s water infrastructure.

He revealed that departments of on-farm water management and soil conservation – the primary bodies responsible for maintaining small watercourses – have been deprived of provincial allocations for over three years.

“Efficient water courses and conservation are inevitable in every corner of Chitral to prevent massive wastage,” Hussain stated and warned that while farmers were desperately attempting to maintain channels with limited personal resources, their efforts were no match for the region’s volatile geography.

“The crisis is exacerbated by Chitral’s susceptibility to natural disasters as each year, monsoon floods and mountain torrents inflict heavy damage on the irrigation network,” he added.

Without government intervention, Hussain warned, the risk of fertile agricultural lands turning barren was becoming a reality.

While the local community often undertakes temporary repairs on a self-help basis, these stop-gap measures are unsustainable without technical support and heavy machinery.

The farmers’ leader warned that ‘persistent neglect’ would lead to a total collapse of the agricultural sector, potentially triggering widespread food shortages in the mountainous districts.

Mr Hussain urged the government to immediately release the stalled funds and implement a coordinated strategy to ensure the permanent restoration of the network before the next flood season strikes.

The farming community also lauded the historical role of the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, noting that Chitral’s agricultural infrastructure would have likely collapsed years ago if not for the organisation’s consistent contributions to the irrigation development.

WOMAN KILLS YOUNGSTER: A young man was shot dead by a woman after he allegedly broke into her house in the Achingole Shahnigar area of Drosh town on Tuesday night, the police said.

According to an official of Drosh police station, a police team rushed to the scene and recovered the body of the deceased, a resident of the nearby Kaldam area, from the kitchen of the house.

The body was shifted to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, Drosh, for postmortem.

The woman was taken into custody.

The police official said the woman claimed the deceased entered her house at night while her husband was away. She alleged the man had “bad intentions” and refused to leave despite repeated warnings.

The police have registered a case under section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code. The incident is said to be the first of its nature in Chitral.

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2026