Yarkhoon,

Yarkhoon, a combination of two words 'Yar' and 'Khoon 'originated from Wakhi Language, obviously means friends home. It is often misunderstood for friend�s blood supported and backed by false and un-reliable stories, which is wrong and there is no convincing evidence and proof. It starts at Naveshiro Saroze a small village near Brep which has also been officially recognized. Yarkhoon is the biggest of all the valleys in Chitral from area point of view with small population and scattered homes mostly build with mud bricks and wooden roofs. The people are very poor economically and have selected animal husbandry and small scale forming for their livelihood. In lower regions of Yarkhoon fruit bearing plants like apples, pears, mulberry, apricot etc... are grown and are often marketed in and outside Chitral, while in extreme upper regions fruit bearing and even common plants are rare leading to the acute shortage of oxygen making life more tough and threatening. In winter heavy snow fall and non-stop fast going winds play a catalyst role in making the situation more badly. The native people have become habitual and have adjusted themselves to the environment. Parsons who have not the experience of being in such clumsy and adverse climatic conditions may not be able to stay there even for a single day. I strongly believe that nothing is impossible if the govt seriously considers it and takes interest in its infrastructure development the situation will be quite different. There are places which are more seriously cold than this particular area but they enjoy almost all the facilities of life.

Yarkhoon can be rightly said as �Hell� in terms of developmental activities. There are no schools except a few with extreme staff shortages and teacher not coming up to the standard of modern educational requirements. No hospitals and health care centers even if there is any locked up round the clock taking the advantage of carelessness of the responsible people. The patients wait for death in their homes and their neighbors caring them till they in to the grave. No means of transport and communication. Telephone is merely an imaginary thing for the common people of the area. The bridge, serving the only mean of connecting the entire Yarkhoon with Chitral broke down in mid August, 2006 is still waiting for rehabilitation and reconstruction. The problems stated above are based on facts and realities and there is no doubt in them. Before coming to an end I would like to ask just a single question from the concerned authorities, is there any other region in Chitral more deprived than Yarkhoon?

Muhammad Din Chitral
e-mail: [email protected]