The overall population of the Kalash religious faith, a centuries-old culture, is increasing slightly in the Lower Chitral district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but surprisingly, there has been a decrease in the number of Kalash women, which is disturbing for the community.
The Kailash Valleys Development Authority, an organization established for the development and welfare of the three valleys of Kalash, famous for tourism in the world due to its ancient culture, has released a detailed survey report on the population and other facilities of the three valleys of Kalash – Bamboort, Brier and Rambor, in which all aspects have been reviewed.
According to the survey, there has been an increase in the population of Kalash religious believers living in Chitral, which was believed to be declining.
Director General Kailash Valleys Development Authority Mahnajuddin told that for the first time, data on the Kalash and Muslim population was collected through a door-to-door survey at the official level in the Kalash Valleys, in which an increase in the Kalash population has been observed.
He said that this survey also asked about difficulties, problems and other issues, while also providing solutions to them and a roadmap for development and prosperity in Kailash.
What is the population of the Kalash and how much has it increased in the past few years?
According to the government survey, the total population of the three valleys of Kalash is 16,321, of which 4,109 are followers of the Kalash faith, while the population of 12,312 is Muslims.
According to the report, surveys were conducted by private organizations in the Kalash Valleys in 2007 and 2022. According to the 2007 survey report, the population of the Kalash community was 3,137 at that time, and from this ratio, the Kalash population has increased by only 972 people in 17 years.
if we look at this calculation, the Kalash population has been increasing by 58 people annually. About five children are born per month, while one child is born every 6 days. Religious judges belonging to the Kalash faith believe that the Kalash population is decreasing in proportion to the population of the country.
According to the survey, the number of women is less than men in the three valleys of Kailash. And the total number of followers of the Kailash faith is 4109, out of which the number of women is 1914, which is less than that of men. The Kailash are very concerned about the number of Kailash women being less than that of men.
Lok Rehmat, a leader and social worker belonging to the Kailash faith, says that he has been working on this for a long time. ‘Our women are decreasing while there are more men, due to which the youth are facing difficulties in getting married.’
He said that the lack of women means your very existence is in danger. Many young people are still unable to get married, while some are forced to marry despite not wanting to, not liking, or despite a clear age difference.
Reasons for the decline in the population of the Kalash who rule Chitral?
Chitral-based scholar and researcher Dr. Inayatullah Faizi and Kailash leader Lok Rahmat are raising questions about the government survey data regarding the population.
Inayatullah Faizi told that he worked on Kailash from 2013 to 2017 and constantly toured the Kailash Valleys. According to him, since 2013, a regular survey of the Kailash population was conducted at the local level, according to which the population was decreasing annually until 2017. Referring to the local survey, he said that the population was decreasing by about 200 people annually until 2017.
He said that the first census was conducted in Chitral in 1911, according to which the number of followers of the Kailash faith was around 13,000, which has now decreased to 4,000.
He said that in 2013, this number had decreased to 3,800. According to him, the mortality rate was also high at that time, while the official report has stated that the number of deaths in Kailash in 2024 was 30.
Why is the Kailash population decreasing?
According to Dr. Inayatullah Faizi, the Kailash were in the majority in Chitral till the 15th century and were also their rulers in 1520. After which their decline began. He has identified the main reasons for the decline in population.
According to him, religious conversion, education system and lifestyle are the main reasons for the decline in population.
He said that religious conversion is a big problem, people belonging to this faith are not only becoming Muslims but are also moving towards other religions including Christianity.
