CHITRAL: The elders of Buryogh village, located on the Chitral–Garam Chashma Road, have accused officials of the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) of nepotism and alleged irregularities. Addressing a joint press conference, they demanded that higher authorities take immediate notice and ensure protective measures for their village against natural disasters.
Speaking at a press conference held at Chitral Press Club on Tuesday, village elders including Bakhsh Ali, Mir Hussain, Sher Wazir, Hayat Khan, Rehmat Ali, Muftahuddin and others alleged that AKAH’s Regional Program Manager (RPM) awarded their project to favored individuals based on personal connections.
They stated that in 2023, AKAH conducted an awareness session in Buryogh (Lower Chitral) and assured the community that a protection wall would be constructed to address a critical issue faced by the village. A geological team later visited the site and declared the project highly important, noting that floods occur every two years in the stream, posing a serious threat to around 300 households and a local powerhouse.
The elders said they repeatedly visited AKAH offices in delegations, and each time the RPM assured them that the project would soon be initiated. However, in 2025, a flood at the same location swept away two vehicles and diverted the flow of the Garam Chashma River toward their village, increasing the risk.
They further said that during another visit in December 2025, they were informed that the protection wall project had been approved and were asked to provide details about local materials, which they did. However, in February 2026, they were shocked to learn that the project had been shifted to Upper Chitral.
The elders pointed out that the working season for constructing protective embankments along the river is also nearing its end, as water flow increases again after May, making construction difficult.
They also alleged extreme nepotism, claiming that the RPM initiated a project in a government school in Balach, where his wife serves as headmistress, terming it clear misuse of authority.
The elders demanded that AKAH’s higher authorities take notice of the alleged nepotism within the organization, stop favoritism, and conduct an inquiry into the cancellation and relocation of their project.
They clarified that they hold AKAH in high regard as an institution, and their complaints are specifically against the RPM and other involved officials.
