| Conventional Long Name: | Chitral District |
| Nation: | Pakistan |
| Status Text: | District of Pakistan |
| Year Start: | 1947 |
| Date Start: | 14 August |
| Event Start: | Established |
| Year End: | 2018 |
| Date End: | 20 July |
| Event End: | Establishment of Lower and Upper Chitral |
| Capital: | Chitral City |
| P1: | Chitral (princely state)Chitral State |
| S1: | Lower Chitral |
| S2: | Upper Chitral |
| Flag P1: | Flag of State of Chitral.svg |
| Border P1: | no |
| Stat Year1: | 1947–2018 |
| Stat Area1: | 14850 |
| Image Map Caption: | Map of the former district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
| Government Type: | District Government |
| Political Subdiv: | 6 Tehsils |
| Today: | Pakistan Lower Chitral & Upper Chitral Districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
| Demonym: | Chitralis |
Chitral District ({{nq|ݯھیترارو ضلع; Urdu: {{nq|ضلع چترال) was a district in the Malakand Division of the Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, from 14 August 1947 to 2018. It was the largest district in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, covering an area of 14,850 km2, before splitting into Upper and Lower Chitral Districts in 2018.[1] It was the northernmost district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.[2] It shared a border with Gilgit-Baltistan to the east and with Swat and Dir districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the south. It also shared an international border with Afghanistan to the north and west.[3] Afghanistan's narrow strip of Wakhan Corridor separated Chitral from Tajikistan in the north.[4]
Chitral shares much of its history and culture with the neighbouring Hindu Kush territories of Gilgit-Baltistan, a region sometimes called "Peristan" because of the common belief in fairies (peri) inhabiting the high mountains.
The entire region that now forms the Chitral District was an independent monarchical state until 1895, when the British negotiated a treaty with its hereditary ruler, the Mehtar, under which Chitral became a semi-autonomous princely state within the Indian Empire. Chitral retained this status even after its accession to Pakistan in 1947, finally being made an administrative district of Pakistan on 14 August 1947, disestablishing the Princely State.[5]
Chitral is counted amongst the highest regions of the world, sweeping from 1,094 metres at Arandu to 7,726 metres at Tirichmir and packing over 40 peaks more than 6,100 metres in height. The terrain of Chitral is very mountainous, and Tirich Mir (25,289 feet), the highest peak of the Hindu Kush, rises in the north of the district.[6] Around 4.8 percent of the land is covered by forest, and 76 percent is mountains and glaciers.
Chitral is connected to the rest of Pakistan by two major road routes, the Lowari Pass (elevation. 10,23 ft.) from Dir and Shandur Top (elevation 12,200 ft.) from Gilgit. Both routes used to be closed in winter, but circa 2017 the highway Lowari Tunnel under the Lowari Pass opened to vehicular traffic for at least ten hours per day.[7] A number of other high passes, including Darkot Pass, Thoi Pass, and Zagaran Pass, provide access on foot to Chitral from Gilgit-Baltistan.
The district has a population of about 414,000. The general population is mainly made up of Kho people, who speak Khowar, which is also spoken in parts of Yasin, Gilgit, Dir, and Swat. Chitral is also home to the Kalash tribe, who live in Bumburet and two other remote valleys southwest of Chitral town. A few thousand Nuristani people are also known to live in Chitral.
The main language of the region is Khowar. There are also smaller communities of speakers of Arabic, Dameli, Gawar-Bati, Gujari(Gojri), Kalasha, Kyrgyz, Kataviri/Kamviri, Madaklashti, Palula, Sariquli, Wakhi, and Yidgha.[8] Urdu has official status.
The city of Chitral is the main city in the district and serves as its capital. It is situated on the west bank of the Chitral River (also known as the Kunar River) at the foot of Tirich Mir, which at 7,708 m (25,289 ft) is the highest peak of the Hindu Kush. Until 14 August 1947, it served as the capital of the princely state of Chitral.
The district of Chitral is divided into twenty-four union councils and two tehsils:[9] [10] [11]
This district is represented by one elected MNA (Member of the National Assembly) in Pakistan National Assembly. Its constituency is NA-32.[12]
| Member of National Assembly | Party Affiliation | Year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abdul Akbar Khan | 2002 | ||
| Shahzada Mohiuddin | Pakistan Muslim League | 2008 | |
| 2013 |
The district is represented by two elected MPAs in the provincial assembly, who represent the following constituencies: