CHITRAL: The residents of Kalash valleys of Bumburate, Rumbur and Birir have categorically rejected the government’s decision to take over possession of forests of pine nuts in the coming season through contractors, calling it an infringement on their rights, which they exercised since the time immemorial as custodian of the forests.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, Noor Shali Khan, Sarawat Shah, councilor Rehmat Ali and Marshel La Khan warned that the residents of the three valleys would resort to forceful protest simultaneously in all the three valleys against the decision of the provincial government.

They said that after the forest department issued a tender notice in newspapers to take over the harvesting process of chalghuza pine nuts in the forests of Kalash valleys, a wave of disappointment and concern swept through the local communities as it threatened to strip them of their major source of income.

They insisted that the residents of the valleys were the guardians of the forests in every respect while as per the laws they were entitled to avail the non-timber forest products.

Expressing their surprise, they said that no pine nut forest of Chitral other than that of Kalash valleys had been taken over by the forest department for harvesting and no tender had been floated with respect to the forests of Sheshi Koh, Damel, Drosh, Gahirait Gol and Chitral Gol.

The complained that the residents of other villages surrounded by the pine nut forests will enjoy the produce (chalghuza) as before but only the poor people of Kalash valleys had been deprived of their major source of income for which they had been waiting throughout the year.

They appealed to the DC Lower Chitral to get the tendering process stopped and to convey the voice of the people of the Kalash Valleys to the authorities.

When Lower Chitral DC Muhammad Hashim Azim was contacted to know his version, he said that after the representation of the delegates of Kalash valleys, he had taken notice of the matter and had called a meeting in this regard.

He expressed the hope that the genuine demand of the residents of the valleys would get due consideration and their concerns would be allayed to the best of their satisfaction.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2025