ISLAMABAD, Aug 12 (ABC): A Rs62 million development plan has been proposed for the Kalash Valleys of Chitral in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for fiscal year 2026-27. The plan includes 13 community-level schemes covering tourism, cultural heritage, drinking water, sanitation, energy and community infrastructure.
According to the proposed Community Physical Infrastructure Works plan for FY2026-27, available with Wealth Pakistan, the schemes carry a stated total cost of Rs62.023 million.
The proposed projects cover villages across Rumbur, Birir, Bumburat, JinJiret and Dobazh valleys.
Tourism and heritage projects
The largest proposed investment is the construction and strengthening of a tourist facilitation centre at Dubash Post in Dobazh. The scheme has an estimated cost of Rs20.358 million.
Heritage preservation also forms a major part of the Kalash Valleys development plan.
The government has proposed Rs7.252 million for rehabilitation of the Gram Heritage Trail in Rumbur. The project aims to improve community access to religious sites through walkway widening, stairs, railings and stone pitching.
Another Rs6.226 million has been proposed for conservation, rehabilitation and sanitation of Kalasha-era heritage and a graveyard at Ginjiret Koh in Jinjiret.
The programme also includes smaller schemes to preserve local cultural assets.
Authorities have proposed Rs1 million for restoration and establishment of cultural stores alongside Jastakhan at Balankuru village in Rumbur. A similar project at Grambet Gole in Birir has been proposed at a cost of Rs500,000.
Community facilities included
The proposed development plan also covers community religious infrastructure.
Architectural and cultural rehabilitation of community mosques has been proposed at three locations. These include Jaw Kuru village in Birir at a cost of Rs1 million, Bumburat at Rs1.5 million and Rumbur at Rs1 million.
Basic civic facilities account for another component of the proposed investment.
A Rs6.299 million scheme has been proposed for the provision and improvement of a funeral place at Brun in Bumburat.
Drinking water and sanitation
Two safe drinking-water projects are also part of the Kalash Valleys development plan.
A Rs4.139 million water-supply scheme has been proposed at Sheikhandeh, covering Ustoi to Mikinjal. Another Rs3.742 million drinking-water project is planned at Krakal in Bumburat.
The proposed programme also earmarks Rs8.010 million for a sanitation and sewerage system in Sheikhandeh. The project aims to improve basic community infrastructure in the area.
Micro-hydel facility to be rehabilitated
The energy component includes rehabilitation of the micro-hydel power facility at Guru in Birir. The proposed project carries an estimated cost of Rs1.898 million.
The 13 proposed schemes combine tourism development and heritage conservation with improvements in drinking water, sanitation and local energy infrastructure.
The programme also seeks to improve culturally significant community spaces while addressing basic infrastructure requirements across the Kalash Valleys.
