ISLAMABAD, Aug 13 (ABC):A package of 13 community-level development schemes has been proposed for the Kalash Valleys of Chitral, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, for fiscal year 2026-27, targeting tourism facilities, cultural heritage, drinking water, sanitation, energy and community infrastructure.
According to the proposed Community Physical Infrastructure Works plan for FY2026-27, a copy of which is available with Wealth Pakistan, the schemes have a stated total cost of Rs62.023 million and are spread across villages in Rumbur, Birir, Bumburat, JinJiret and Dobazh valleys.
The largest single proposed investment is the construction and strengthening of a tourist facilitation centre at Dubash Post in Dobazh, estimated at Rs20.358 million.
Heritage preservation also features prominently in the proposed programme. An allocation of Rs7.252 million has been proposed for rehabilitation of Gram Heritage Trail in Rumbur, aimed at improving 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 graveyard at Ginjiret Koh in Jinjiret.
The program also includes smaller interventions designed to preserve local cultural assets. Restoration and establishment of cultural stores alongside Jastakhan have been proposed at Balankuru village in Rumbur for Rs1 million and at Grambet Gole in Birir for Rs500,000.
Community religious infrastructure is also part of the package. Architectural and cultural rehabilitation of community mosques in Jaw Kuru village in Birir for Rs1 million, Bumburat for Rs1.5 million, and Rumbur for Rs1 million has been proposed.
Basic civic facilities account for another important component of the proposed investment. A scheme costing Rs6.299 million is planned for provision and improvement of a funeral place at Brun in Bumburat.
Two drinking-water projects have also been included. A Rs4.139 million safe drinking-water supply scheme has been proposed at Sheikhandeh, covering Ustoi to Mikinjal, while another Rs3.742 million scheme is planned at Krakal in Bumburat.
The proposed works also include Rs8.010 million for a sanitation and sewerage system in Sheikhandeh to strengthen basic community infrastructure.
The energy infrastructure would receive support through the proposed rehabilitation of the micro-hydel power facility at Guru in Birir, carrying an estimated cost of Rs1.898 million.
The proposed schemes reflect a multi-pronged approach to community infrastructure in the Kalash Valleys, combining tourism facilitation and heritage conservation with improvements in water supply, sanitation, local energy facilities and culturally significant community spaces.