Ghizer District »Yasin Valley
Yasin Valley, culturally and ecologically, an alluring place lies in the north of Pakistan. Administratively it constitutes a Tehsil of Ghizar District, one of the five Districts of Greater Gilgit Baltistan Area (GGBA). Because of its geo-strategic importance, Yasin has long been of a vigorous profile to international powers such as Chinese, Indians, Russians and B
ritish. A Chinese General Kao Hsien-chih ran his expedition through Yasin to deal with the Tibetan invaders at Oxus in A.D. 747. Yasin has long claimed pride to be the shortest means of communication between Oxus and Indus. Modern Yasin is a virgin eco-tourist destination encompassed by snow-blanked peaks, snaked curved aqua-marine rivers, and crystal clean natural springs. The diversified communities in Yasin have a wonderful culture where diversity and mutual respect is highly regarded. The citizenry has maintained an example of harmonious co-existence over years. This web site is a community initiative to represent Yasin Valley. We welcome our visitors and wish them a happy ride on their mouse for happy clicks throughout the links. We highly appreciate feedback and comments for constructive improvements. Yasin is located in the Northern areas of Pakistan .Apart from the main valley, Yasin valley includes several side-valleys like,Thause, Nazbar, Hoyelti, Thui, Qorkulti, Sandhi, Asumbar,Barkulti, Hundur, Darkut etc. Yasin Valley, culturally and ecologically, an alluring place lies in the north of Pakistan. The Yasin Valley, and in particular the character it produced, has played a leading role in the history of the region. Continually fought over by the rulers of both Chitral and Gilgit, the history of Yasin reads like a catalogue of patricide, fratricide and aunculicide. Yasin Valley came to the attention of Victorian Britain following the murder of the British explorer George W. Hayward in the upper reaches of the Valley. "It is interesting to note how concern the local people are about their image to outsiders, some 130 years after the event; you may still be asked about it and villagers are at pains to point out that those who were involved were not from Darkot." Dave Winter writes about the incident and the commiseration of the local people. People and Languages
Biddulph classifies the original inhabitants of the valley as Yashkuns, also they refer to themselves as Boorusho. The majority of the valley are Ismaili Muslims, speaking Boorushaski, although it is more archaic dialect than the Boorushaski spoken in Hunza and Nagar. Shina, Wakhi, Turkish and persian languages have also been witnessed spoken some old age people. Today most of the people are bilingual, speaking both Boorushaski and Khowar. Unfortunately all the languages spoken in the region are enlisted among the 27 endangered languages of Pakistan declared by UNESCO in February, 2009. Topography
The entrance to Yasin is relatively dry and stony, un till you reach the first 'green' settlement at Damalgan and Gindai. Central Yasin is a long sprawling series of settlements collectively known as Yasin. There are still remains of the fort built by Gohar Aman, one of the valley's most celebrated rulers. The bottom of the valley rises from 2160m in the south up to over 2700m near the village Darkut. Especially North of Darkut where a lofty range separates the catchments area of Yasin from that of Yarkhun River, the surrounding peaks reach altitudes of more than 6000m. Villages and fields are located along the river, mostly on the alluvial fans of tributaries. Due to the arid conditions at the valley bottom and at the lower slopes, agriculture is only possible by means of irrigation. The streams and torrents from which irrigation channels are diverted originate from glaciers, which are extensive especially in the northern part of the area. The gradual increase in the precipitation and the concomitant decrease in the temperature from the valley bottom to higher altitudes are the main constituents in the development of the several vegetation zones
Those parts of the riverbed which are less affected by flood are covered with so called ‘forest’ (mushk) which mainly consists of tamarisks (Papak). In the semi desert of the valley bottom and adjacent slopes the people have created oases. irrigated field to grow food and fodder crops. Altitudes between 2800m and 3700m are dominated by Artemisia steppes. In this zone summer settlement are situated with fields at the lower and without cultivation at higher altitudes. Further uphill there follows a belt characterized by alpine and 4400m the vegetation is replaced by detritus, snow and ice with glacier tongues often reaching down to much lower altitudes. These vegetation zones vary considerably in terms of their values as posture. The alpine grassland possess the highest value, even if they can only be used during steppers are free of snow for a longer period but of the lower fodder value .the wasteland at lower altitude hardly lend themselves to regular use as posture ,while the irrigated areas provide several sources of fodder (e.g. weeds) from the field grass from the fringes of the fields and small plots of irrigated meadows ) Goats and sheep sometimes also graze in the mushk of the riverbed, areas which are easily accessible during the winter season although it is only of very limited use as a source of forage. Population and Social Life
The population of Yasin amounts to about 45,000 inhabitants. They are divided into various patrilineal descent groups (qoom) of distinct origin and social prestige. The larger villages generally consist of a number of hamlets which are mostly inhabited by members of one qoom. Households of these hamlets often combine into larger groups (giram or mon) in order to co-operate in socio-religious and agricultural activities, such as entertaining guests at weddings and funerals, or spreading manure (dehlk) in the fields, respectively. There are numerous social gatherings. Economic Condition
For most of the households, agriculture plays an important role, even though nowadays it is not the exclusive means to secure food supplies. Sources of income in Yasin Valley are very limited. Health Care and Educational system is miserable. Most of the people join Pakistan Army due to limited career options and lack of resources for further education. Those who do not qualified for Army choose to be stone makers (mistrees). There are very few doctors and engineers in the valley. However, the new generation is transitioning to urban areas to avail of educational and economic opportunities. Access to Modern Education, in general is limited. Since, the Greater Gilgit Baltistan Area is deprived of basic human rights including right to vote, Yasin also remains almost untouched in terms of governance and state welfare. One police station, a Tehsil Office, few government schools and health clinics built decades ago, are the only signs that assure the presence of government of Pakistan and its welfare generosity towards the citizens. Every house has two or three men serving for the Pakistani Military. Most of them die in wars such as Kargil, Siachin, Wazirstan etc. The people of Yasin, have no chosen representative in the democratic system of Pakistan as it is the case in other regions of Greater Gilgit Baltistan Area (GGBA)
Villages in Yasin Valley
' 'yasin' ,gindi, Noh, Taus, Nazbar, Ghojalti, Sandhi, Sultanabad, Thoi, Bharkolti, Hundur, Umalsat(املست), Datkut, Qurqulti, Gahyeen Chail, Ishkaibar, Murka, Mashar, Saranmooj, Dalsadi and Shaman, moroong, burakut, ghasum,Gartenz,.other villages of yasin, batakush uskurthan,nurmall,yavooz,khabar,shokan,
Passes in Yasin Valley
The Darkut Pass connects Yasin with Broghol pass and Chitral whilst the Thoi Pass connects Yasin to Yarkhun Chitral and Asumber pass connects Yasin to Ishkomen. Darkot Pass is a historical pass which discriminately has been labelled as restricted zone by Government of Pakistan. This pass used to be the shortest means of Communication between oxus and Indus. Local and Foreign Tourism love to trek along the Assumbur pass to Ishqamen valley. Where to Stay
There is an accommodation facility in Yasin Valley.There are motels,hotels,and rest houses.Camping sites are easily found.People are also welcoming and hospitable......
PHotos
a view of yasin valley. POLO players after winning a trophy
A farmer ploughing his fields
A local dish made on festivals and marriages locally called ( lajek)
Edited and released by:S@jja@d Ali S@mB@
