Shahzad Ahmad Shahzad
SHANDUR, June 24, 2025: The Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) Chitral played a key role at the Shandur Festival 2025, held from June 20 to 22, by leading efforts in public health support and environmental conservation.
Arriving on June 19, the AKAH team established a first aid camp that provided essential health services to more than 200 festival attendees. Services included basic first aid, psychological support and referrals to a nearby medical camp. The camp attracted frequent visits from both local and international festival-goers, as well as government officers.
In collaboration with local CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) members from Laspur and Kalash valley, AKAH also led a large-scale cleanliness campaign under the ICRCC project, funded by the embassy of Denmark. Volunteers collected plastic waste, placed waste bins around the festival venue, and raised awareness on environmental issues such as plastic pollution, safe waste disposal, and hygiene.
On each day of the festival, dedicated cleanup efforts were carried out:
Day 1 (June 20): Waste collection drive around the polo ground.
Day 2 (June 21): Campsite area cleaned and three public toilets constructed by AKAHP Gilgit region were made available for use.
Day 3 (June 22): A large-scale post-event cleanup was conducted with support from District Administration, Rescue 1122, CHEPS, TMA Upper Chitral, and students of Army Public School Mastuj.
An awareness desk set up at the AKAH camp attracted notables from both Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan and showcased educational materials promoting environmental protection, water conservation, and community health.
AKAH’s active participation reinforced its commitment to community resilience, public health, and sustainable practices in the region, said a press release.