Residents and experts in Chitral have urged authorities to urgently construct a continuous chain of protective bulwarks along the Chitral River to prevent devastating floods.
With summer approaching, communities across the valley fear another intense flood season. Locals say flooding has worsened significantly over the past two decades, affecting areas from Broghil Valley to Arandu near the Pak-Afghan border.
Rising temperatures and rapid glacial melting have made the river more destructive. In areas like Ayun, nearly one-third of limited cultivable land has already been lost due to erosion caused by strong water flows.
Several villages, including Dubarger, Pawer, and Kargin in Yarkhun Valley, along with Reshun and Green Lasht, continue to face serious flood risks. Many of these communities remain highly vulnerable each year.
In Lower Chitral, residents of Ayun, Khairabad, Drosh, and other areas fear displacement during peak flood months. The lack of permanent flood protection infrastructure has increased uncertainty for thousands of people.
Former MPA Syed Sardar Hussain Shah said the region has long required a comprehensive river protection plan. However, he noted that successive governments have failed to implement key proposals.
He highlighted that only about four percent of Chitral’s land is suitable for cultivation. Continued loss of this land poses a serious threat to local livelihoods and food security.
Environmental experts have also raised alarm over the situation. Ecologists warn that Chitral is home to more than 500 glaciers, many of which are melting rapidly due to climate change.
Experts, including Hamid Mir, caution that glacial lake outburst floods may become more frequent. They emphasize that permanent protective structures are essential to safeguard communities.
Residents fear that without immediate action, repeated flooding could wipe out historic villages entirely. The growing threat has intensified calls for urgent government intervention.
Also read: First-Ever Woman Elected from Chitral
