Tor Ghar (Kala Dhaka) … Past, Present & Future

Newly created district of Tor Ghar was formerly known as Kala Dhaka and was a tribal area in district Mansehra, is a rugged, mountainous region of approximately 500 square miles that spans the Indus River in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. Earlier a provincially administered tribal area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the major part of Tor Ghar lies on the eastern bank of the Indus River in the watershed of the mountain range (Black Mountain) from which the area takes its name. This range, which averages 5,000-8,000 feet, runs south to north for approximately 30 miles between the river port of Darband and Thakot, a bazaar on the Karakoram Highway. The western portion of Tor Ghar lies on an equally steep watershed formed by the mountains that separate the Gadoon Ahmazai tribal area of Swabi District from the Indus basin.

Tor Ghar can be divided into three general agro-ecological zones. These zones are the subalpine pasture, evergreen forest, and river valleys of the highlands that extend from 5,000-6,000 feet above sea level to the ridgeline; the sparsely populated, steep-sided valleys of the midlands that extend from 2,3000-5/6,000 illustrates the general settlement pattern throughout Tor Ghar.

Tor Ghar lacks sufficient agricultural land to meet the subsistence requirements of its population. Most households supplement their agricultural production by keeping livestock for milk and meat; the region's abundant grasslands and pasture support a large number of livestock compared to other mountainous areas of Pakistan. Still, because of the region's limited agricultural lands, a problem compounded by the fragmentation of all land holdings Tor Gharans depend on the importation of food for at least half of their annual subsistence requirements.

Population Estimates             (source: Wikipedia)

Tor Ghar's Tribes:
Tribes	Population (approx)
Mada Khel	24,000 Approx
Hassanzai	35,000 Approx
Akazai	29,000 Approx
NusratKhel	12,000 Approx
Basikhel	85,000 Approx

Population of Tor Ghar is mainly comprised of five tribes, namely Akazai, Basi Khel, Hasanzai, Mada Khel and Nusrat Khel. Inclusive of all Tor Ghar is accommodating 0.5 million people approximately. (figures need to be confirmed)

The extent of long-term migration of men from Kala Dhaka for wage employment is a vivid testament to the dependence of the region on outside sources of income for survival. Nearly 88 percent of all Kala Dhaka households surveyed by the KDADP, a project launched by the government with financial assistance of ADB in 90s, have at least 1 member working outside the region for an average of nine months per year. Half of those households have from 2-5 members working outside the region.

The lessons that can be drawn from this experience are that locals don’t have considerable sources of livelihood in their home region. The high level of male absenteeism undoubtedly affects the efforts of bringing development to the people and uplifting of the area, if carried out in the past.

Problems Pertaining to Tor Ghar

Tor Ghar is considered the most underprivileged and deprived region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where very basic needs of life are almost nonexistent which makes the life of locals very deplorable and miserable.

Education

The only system of education which exists in Tor Ghar is primary education which is, unfortunately, also moribund. Teacher absenteeism is acute, teachers are underpaid, and teaching materials scarce. Also, there is a lack of supervision of the teachers by the concerned department and of institutionalized in-service training for teachers. Most of the schools don’t have their own buildings. Staffs recruited from outside the area don’t have inclination to serve in the area due to lack of basic needs of life. Literacy rate is just 4% while women don’t have any opportunity of schooling and education.

Health

This part of the world doesn’t possess any facility on the name of health. Few basic health units are the health facility in all for whole  of the district. People face severe problems whenever there is an emergency. People have to take their patients to the town of Oghi which takes the whole day from some parts of the district. For major health related issues district headquarter hospital Mansehra and Ayub Teaching Hospital in Abbottabad. Women are most vulnerable segment of the society in this sector as well. The whole of the district don’t’ have the services of even a single lady doctor.

 
Communication Network

500 miles long newly created district of Tor Ghar don’t have any communication infrastructure at all. Steep & narrow roads cannot  link the distant places of the district. Sometimes it takes a whole day to reach the nearest town of Oghi in district Mansehra from many areas of Tor Ghar. Television broadcasting, mobile & telephone services and other modern day facilities are still a dream for the people.

Electrification

In few places of the district people have managed to generate limited amount of electricity at their own but most of the district still live in Dark Age. Illumination of modern day lights is far beyond imagination of poor inhabitants of Tor Ghar. It is direly needed to utilize the local resources for hydel power generation to electrify the district and bringing the change in their lives.

Water Supply

Mountainous Tor Ghar has waterfalls, springs, streams and rivers in abundant but schemes to supply the water to the households are required. Gravity flow water supply schemes can solve the issue on permanent basis.

Women Development

Women are district Tor Ghar are still far away from the developments of modern day life. Education, skill development, casting votes  and participation in other developmental activities is unthinkable for the women of Tor Ghar. They have not been granted with the basic human rights even. There is no health facility for the women all across the district. In fact the life of women in Tor Ghar is very deplorable.

 
Future Perspective

In fact, Tor Ghar has sufficient natural resources for providing livelihood not only to the locals but also to the people of side by areas  but long term planning in this respect have never been done, due to which it is the most neglected part of this province. Following can be major sources of income generation and creation of employment opportunities in the region, if a little attention may be paid.

Tourism

Lush green valleys, gushing streams, thick forests, snow covered peaks, fertile gazing fields and abundant natural resources and beautiful banks of Tarbela Dam are the key elements of which Tor Ghar is made up. This can be proved another ‘Switzerland’ of Pakistan, if a little attention paid to this unforgotten paradise of this province because the potential is significantly unmatchable. This don’t need unlimited resources to develop a little communication network and few facilities for the touring people but ultimately this  can generate thousands of job opportunities and a permanent source of income for the locals. This sector may be developed on top priority basis.

Forestry

Unique opportunities exist for public as well as private sector to contribute to the forest sector of Tor Ghar. Unlike other regions of Pakistan, the people of Tor Ghar, rather than the government, control their own forests, but they see them as a never-ending resource without a need to replant. High-altitude blue pine forests are being badly destroying by legal and illegal cutting. Existing forests are a great haven for pheasants, dears, Ghazals and wild animals. If forests or kept cutting with current pace and re-plantation was not given importance, this great gift of nature will die an unjust death. Management of existing forest resources, wasteland development and hillside stabilization with the introduction of fast-growing fuel-wood and forage species direly needed to save the beautiful forests of Tor Ghar.

Fishery

Rivers, streams and adjacent Tarbela Dam can proved a great source of fishery for the locals. Precious trout fish can be pooled in abundant in this region as this is the best natural haven for Trout fish, as an example. Fishing can also become a big source of income and provide job opportunities.

Mineral Development

Mountains of Tor Ghar are considered to be filled with precious minerals, marble is one of them. Limestone, China clay and Granite can be produced in plentiful. The only thing needed is dedication and commitment for unearthing these resources and bringing change in the lives of common.

 
Agriculture

There are opportunities in significant improvement to the region's agriculture by making available improved, high-quality wheat,  maize, seed potato, and other crops along with require inputs (fertilizer). This process, however, required a long-term commitment. Concerned department needs to improve its timely planning, selection, and procurement of inputs to guarantee the acceptance and continued demand for these improved seed varieties.

Livestock

Livestock are as important as crops to the agricultural economy of Tor Ghar and should be considered in any attempt to improve local production and income. Vast & fertile gazing fields of Tor Ghar can proved to be a wonderland in respect of Livestock and dairy development. Unlike other mountainous regions, Tor Ghar is rich in grazing fields where goats, sheep, cows and buffalos can be kept.

Wish, pray and will put my efforts for a prosperous Tor Ghar (Kala Dhaka).