Bashir Hussain Azad | Chitral Today
Chitral, Dec 9, 2025: Residents of Chitral have voiced strong concern over an acute shortage of firewood in the town area and the failure of stall owners to comply with the official price list issued by the district administration.
They said that despite the alarming shortage of firewood – particularly shah baloot (chestnut) – and a steep rise in market prices, the administration had maintained a concerning silence. The situation has also created severe difficulties for tandoor owners who rely heavily on firewood.
Tandoor operators told ChitralToday that while the district administration had fixed the price of firewood at Rs750 per maund, it was not available in the market for less than Rs1,050 to Rs1,100. They said the administration’s failure to enforce official rates was pushing their businesses to the brink.
Residents alleged that wood dealers’ stocks had run dry and that some stallowners were selling firewood secretly at inflated prices. They demanded strict action against violators and urged authorities to ensure availability of firewood at government-approved rates.
They also called for cancelling the permits of stall owners involved in overpricing and seizing their stocks to curb profiteering. The locals pointed out that last year the administration had taken effective measures to resolve the issue, but this winter no such action is visible.
The public urged the district administration to ensure the supply of firewood and enforce the official price list without delay.
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