From Hope to Despair: How Dewser’s Road Project Became a Story of Neglect – By: Abdur Rashid
Dewser: The Forgotten Village of Upper Chitral Located around 65 kilometers from Booni, the administrative hub of Upper Chitral, the village of Dewser once stood proud as a self-sustaining community in the Yarkhun Valley. Today, it faces ongoing hardship due to climate change and repeated flooding that has severely damaged both its infrastructure and livelihoods. On one side, riverbank erosion by the Yarkhun River continues to eat away at the land. On the other, it has damaged bridges and roads, cutting the village off from nearby areas.
This isolation has made life difficult for the residents. Students face disrupted education, while basic goods like food and supplies are hard to bring in. People often walk long distances on dangerous paths, carrying items on their shoulders. The absence of healthcare facilities makes it nearly impossible to get timely treatment, especially in emergencies. Even in 2025, Dewser lacks access to essential services and continues to wait for help from the government and relief organizations.
Road Project Delays and Community Concerns:
About a year and a half ago, AKRSP (Aga Khan Rural Support Program) launched a road construction project in Dewser. In the opening ceremony of the project in Dewser in July 2023, the RPM and Chief Engineer attended. The Chief Engineer told the RPM and the community that the project was worth 1 crore and 22 lakh rupees. He said that if the community wanted to build the road themselves, they would be given the full amount. However, the condition was that 90% of the work must be finished by December 2023. The community replied that the timeline was too short and difficult to manage. They said they did not want to take the risk of missing the deadline and instead asked AKRSP to handle the project, as it is a professional organization. But until now, 40% of the work is still not completed, and no one has been held responsible for the delay.
The project was awarded to a contractor. However, work was delayed due to security concerns the administration (DC) restricted access because of terrorism threats and use of explosives. The residents approached both departments, and after 4–5 months, permission was granted. The contractor purchased the necessary materials and was allowed to use 5 kg of explosives per day for controlled blasting. As work progressed, the people of Dewser felt hopeful that their long-standing issue would finally be resolved. Unfortunately, in October 2024, when the project was halfway complete, the District Commissioner (DC) ordered a stop to the work, claiming violation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Since then, the project has remained on hold, and it’s now May 2025.
Questions Raised by the People of Dewser:
- If a single order from the DC can stop the project, why can’t a single order restart it?
- What crime have the people of Dewser committed? Why are they being punished in so many ways?
- If the contractor violated the SOP, why hasn’t he been held accountable? Why are innocent villagers suffering instead?
- God forbid, if an incident occurs—children cross dangerous mountain to attend school—will the administration or representatives take responsibility?
- Why hasn’t AKRSP terminated the contractor’s agreement if he failed to comply with project conditions?
- What was the agreement between AKRSP and the contractor?
Community Sentiment and Appeal:
The residents of Dewser are deeply disappointed with the current state of affairs. AKRSP was once seen as a trusted and respected institution. Its staff were known for their professionalism and strong community relationships. Villagers contributed to AKRSP’s success by working voluntarily, without wages or even food, to support development initiatives. Sadly, due to poor leadership, trust is eroding, and AKRSP’s credibility is suffering. The community still respects and values AKRSP and has approached its team multiple times, but no resolution has been provided. This situation goes against the vision, mission, and core values of AKRSP.
The community has always trusted AKRSP—and so have its donors. If the issue remains unresolved, the villagers will be left with no choice but to escalate it through protests, public demonstrations, and hunger strikes. The residents are deeply disappointed with the organization they once held in the highest regard. AKRSP was once seen as a respected and trusted institution. Its staff were known for their professionalism and dedication, and they had a strong, respectful bond with the local community. In the past, whenever materials were provided, the community would complete the work voluntarily without wages because of their sincere trust and respect for the organization. Their efforts played a major role in AKRSP’s early success in Chitral.
Unfortunately, due to weak and ineffective leadership, the organization’s performance is declining day by day. We respectfully urge the Regional Program Manager (RPM) to address this matter urgently. We continue to respect AKRSP and its legacy, which is why we have cooperated at every stage. We have approached your team multiple times, but sadly, our repeated requests have gone unanswered, leaving the community disheartened and hopeless. This situation goes completely against the vision, mission, and core values of AKRSP. The community has placed unquestioning trust in this institution and so have the donors. If this issue is not resolved, the trust and reputation built over decades will suffer further. If this critical issue is not resolved promptly, we, the residents of Dewser, will be left with no choice but to begin public protests, demonstrations, and hunger strikes. We strongly urge both AKRSP and the district administration to take immediate action to prevent this from escalating further
Pending project Pictures:
