Kalash - Ancient Culture and Heritage Site

Case Study: Kalash an ancient culture and heritage site in Pakistan
50 years ago, I visited the secluded Kalash Valley.

Connected by a dangerous hanging bridge, was the lush green locality inhabited by the Kalash Tribe. The
rich agricultural society is blessed with several gifts of nature including oaks, walnuts, wheat, maize,
grapes, apples and apricot.
I met a Greek tourist during my visit, who constantly insisted that the Kalash people were descendants
of Alexander the Greats army. He called them his people. Contrastingly recent Genetic evaluations
have discovered Kalash to have a distinct DNA marker as old as 6,000 years old, not found in any other
race in the world.
The population roughly over a couple thousand also had a unique culture. Women wore clothes made of
wool spun with hand needles. There were no modern tools and absolutely no outside influence.
The society celebrated several festivals dedicated to deities during various seasons of the year. They had
wooden temples decorated with sculptures and carvings symbolizing their beliefs.
It was an experience of a lifetime.
The valley has changed a bit in modern times but remains isolated and deprived of basic facilities such as
healthcare and safe transportation routes.
Address: 88-R, Block 2, P.E.C.H.S., Karachi -75400, Pakistan. ; Tel: 0092 - 213 - 453 0646, 0092 - 213 438-2298
Email: info@shehri.org ; Website: www.shehri.org ; Facebook: www.fb.com/shehri.citizens ; Twitter @ShehriCBE
Today the valley faces an existential threat due to climate

change.
Landslides, erosion, warmer temperatures and flash floods
are constantly threatening the 4,100 heads population
bearing the torch of the rare culture.
Despite their uniqueness the valley struggles to get it
registered as a UNESCO Heritage site and therefore the
people are being ignored by the international community
for any safety or disaster mitigation measures.
The wooden deity depicted in the picture is symbolic to
the Kalash religious culture. Several such sculptures are
preserved in the gender specific temples. Goats and Lions
have also been carved out of the sacred wood.
Kafiristan (another name for Kalash) can be extinct with a
singular big climactic event depriving us of world heritage
dating back to 6,000 years and also of the rare genes. It
would be a great loss to world history.
Therefore, I would like to request International Union for
Conservation of Nature to protect this indigenous site
through its knowledge base and protection measures from
the impact of climate change already threatening the area.
Quick Facts
1. Almost half of Pakistan's 5,000
glaciers, covering around 15,000
square kilometers are melting at
a rapid rate. The rate of glacial
melt, which has risen by about
23% in the previous decade, is
one of the fastest in the world,
according to the Pakistan
Meteorological
Department
(PMD).
Dubaz Bridge collapsed completely during flash flood
2. Pakistan is one of the most

disaster-prone countries in the
world. In 2010, the country
suffered the worst floods in a
generation with more than 1,600
killed and over 14 million
affected
as
floodwaters
inundated over a third of the
country.
Women crossing Link Bridge in the valley
3. Temperatures
in
northern
Pakistan (Kalash is located in the
same area) have already been
estimated to have increased by
1.9 degree centigrade in the
past century resulting in more
frequent and dangerous flash
floods.
4. With neighboring China emitting
9 million tons of CO2 emissions
within a span of 5 years,
Pakistan needs quick climate
change mitigation measures to
protect itself.
Women flaunting their traditional outfits
Map of Kalash Valley in perspective (Google Maps 2016)
Nearby Areas and Facilities

Kalash is located within the Brumboret valley [of Kalasha Desh- Ancient name of location] in Khyber
Paktunkhwa Province of Pakistan. Chitral is the nearest city to the indigenous site with a small domestic
airport. The valley is only 324 Kilometers away from the provincial capital, Peshawar, and 427 kilometers
away from the state capital, Islamabad.
District Head Quarter Hospital Chitral, is the nearest state owned health facility available for the Kalash
people. On July 2, 2016 the city was hit by flash floods. Relief goods were provided to the hospital
through military helicopters. The area remains prone to flooding during the warmer seasons due to
melting glaciers.
Conservation and Protection

The Culture and Tourism Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa looks after the indigenous site charging
Rs. 10 ($0.10) from foreign tourists and Re. 1 ($ 0.01) from local tourists as toll tax to visit the valley.
The economic feasibility can easily be deciphered from these values. Therefore, the conservation
potential of the government is almost nonexistent for this deprived community. Effective policy
development to protect this endangered community is also lacking along with the much needed
infrastructure.
Shehri-CBE and Conservation of Nature

Shehri-CBE has been working closely with Local Schools, Hospitals, Local Government, and Public Parks
Administration to achieve its target of planting a million trees in the metropolitan city of Karachi.
The organization has been appointed as amicus curiae by the High Court of Peshawar under Writ
Petition Nos. 348/2011, COC No. 203/2011 in WP 113/2011 dealing with the conservation and
protection of the Galiayat (Protected Hill Stations) Region. Shehri-CBE submitted the analyses and
recommendations to the court and Galiyat Development Authority (GDA) on November 14, 2014 at the
Pakistan Forest Institute, University of Peshawar. The struggle for increasing and saving green cover in
the area continues.
IUCN and Kalash

IUCN had developed a report titled: The Kalash - Protection and Conservation of an Endangered
Minority in the Hindukush Mountain Belt of Chitral, Northern Pakistan in 2007, which resulted in
technical collaboration with the tourism department. However, environmental conservation has
become more challenging during the current decade.
Another detailed study is required through this platform to save this indigenous culture which dates
back to 2 B.C. from dying in another environmental catastrophe. Even more importantly, financial
assistance is required for the protection of this alpine heaven of the pagans of Kafiristan.
The help of IUCN International Community will be extremely appreciated.

Thank you.

Kalash - Ancient Culture and Heritage Site

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Case Study: Kalash an ancient culture and heritage site in Pakistan

50 years ago, I visited the secluded Kalash Valley.

Today the valley faces an existential threat due to climate

Dubaz Bridge collapsed completely during flash flood

2. Pakistan is one of the most

Women crossing Link Bridge in the valley

Women flaunting their traditional outfits

Map of Kalash Valley in perspective (Google Maps 2016)

Nearby Areas and Facilities

Conservation and Protection

Shehri-CBE and Conservation of Nature

IUCN and Kalash

The help of IUCN International Community will be extremely appreciated.

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