Chitral and wastage of Resources – By: Prof. Rahmat Karim Baig
In the past Chitral was an independent princely State with its own resource management system and an ‘ elaborate state administration’ with a number of closely connected departments under the ruling prince. Notables from all the valleys used to attend the Court for a couple of months and the ruler asked about all disciplines of the local structure of their areas and got info where any mismanagement was sensed by him. Without delay he directed the concerned state official to improve the deficiency or fix the hitch and report to the ruler or to give suggestions for the ruler’s order.
The tribes living in each village were numerous and they were advised to be responsible for peace and smooth mechanism of the social structure and, therefore, all social sectors worked properly under control and instructions of the ruler. Despite its demerits dictatorship has also some merits also. Though poor the society was in good discipline and managements of water resources for getting better crops from the fields and misuse or disputes were immediately resolved.
In the current so called democratic set up the old resource management mechanism has died and the government functionaries are not taking interest in the promotion of social sector as the officials are not interested in performance but have focus on funds. Agriculture has received a great setback. The heads of the district offices come from other districts but spend most of their time out of the district with various excuses such as meetings, personal engagements etc. so the office is mostly run by a junior who cannot decide any issue.
As far as Forestry is concerned it has worked in Chitral since long but after the creation of a 2nd district as upper Chitral this office is not functional there at Booni. There are waste lands in both the districts of Chitral and the irrigation department can construct irrigation channels for land reclamation but no work is seen. No steps are under consideration. No political leader is talking about the promotion of agriculture, aforestation or horticulture. In the 70s good work on promotion of agriculture especially on Horticulture had been initiated and the results are visible all over the two districts. Other resources like minerals and Fisheries are still to be discussed for general readers and to create awareness among the new generation as what Natural resources Chitral has got beside Tourism. Our provincial govt. has to be active to provide relief to the society.
