Forum Pakistan

Chitral Physical
Chitral is a long, isolated valley extending some 320 km, with a population of some 250, 000 people, in the NWFP. A river by the same name, with its source in the *Hindu Kush mountains, flows through the valley. The river is 190 km long. At its source it is called the Yarkhun, then in its upper course it is called *Mastuj. The Mastuj is fed by the Shever-Shur Glacier. During the melting period the level of the water rises by some 12-15 meters and floods the bed of the valley, disrupting transport and communications between the villages and towns along the river. Down to the town of Mastuj, the valley is actually a mountain gorge with steep banks on both sides. Below Mastuj it broadens out and reaches a width of 3 km near the town of Chitra!. It crosses the Chitral district and near the village of Arandu, on the Afghan-Pakistan frontier, joins the Kunar, which flows into Afghanistan. The valley is cut off by snow for part of the year, although a small Fokker plane maintains a vital link. The valley is regarded as particularly beautiful with stunning views of Tirich Mir, the tallest peak in the Hindu Kush at 7,708 meters. Although the area is currently governed directly by Pakistan, through the Deputy Commissioner, the Mulk family, with its princes is still important in the valley.

Chitral (Political)
1. A princely state in the valley of the Chitral river. In 1951, its area was 14,900 sq.km.; population 106,000, mostly *Khos, and also *Kohistanis. Since 1585 Chitral was ruled by the dynasty founded by Mirza Ayub, a fourth-generation descendant of Timur (1370-1405). From 1747-1819, Chitral was a vassal dependency of the *Durrani kings, and from 1889-1947, a vassal of the British sovereign. Since 18 February 1948 Chitral has been a part of Pakistan. In April 1953, Chitral's constitution was adopted and an Advisory Council set up. In 1955 the state was abolished.
2. A district in the Malakand division of Pakistan's NWFP. Area: 14,850 sq.krn.; population 209,000 (1981 data).