Martung

Light snowfall at Martung

Unlike other parts of Shangla, weather in Martung remains moderate in winters and valleys in Martung get little snowfall. Areas very close to river Indus are quite hot in summer. Deforestation has been a great issue especially for Martung since long. People living in this area have no access to coal or gas at all and are facing problems of poor network of electricity, low voltage and load shedding since the area has got connected to the national grid. The people, therefore, have been burning wood for their household cooking and other requirements since the beginning. Although not very cold, even then the temperature goes below freezing point in the winter and people have to keep their houses warm by burning wood. Once there were thick forests of pine and olive trees within the valleys; now forests can only be found in far and high hills.

A small river in Martung called Khowar in local language

Martung is not very rich in water in contrast to the rest of District Shangla. Water is not a problem only in Sinkarai viz: the areas very near to the river Indus. Sinkarai includes Kabalgram, Dedal, Kamach, Behar and many more small villages. The rest of Martung has many springs and small streams but they normally depend on the annual rainfall. Spring water was being used as drinking water since long, which the people carried from nearby springs to their houses. Small pipelines stretched from such springs to one or more houses are also common there, but a proper water supply scheme does not exist. Environmental changes since the early 1990s have affected the area and Martung gets less precipitation than normal since then. Some people living in the valley now dig wells to get water from. The water table is around 50 m below the earth surface in the central village of Martung. This situation has also led to reduced water quantity in the springs and small rivers. For the last 10 to 15 years, there are only two small rivers, namely Eitai and Khowar that flow for the whole year, also with reduced water than usual. This situation has greatly reduced the production of rice in the area, which is one of the major crops being grown there.

People of this area mainly live on farming. Soil of Martung is rich and fertile but unfortunately there is no irrigation system and agriculture in the area mainly depends upon rains. People are poor and are not aware of modern agriculture; they use old traditional ways and tools. They mainly grow wheat, maize and rice but not on the commercial scale. These are hardly enough for most of the people to eat. Being physically far from the local market (Mingora), it is not feasible to take their products to the market because of high transportation expenses. People grow vegetables and fruits only on small scale for their own use. A large number of people go to big cities of the country like Lahore and Karachi for seeking low level jobs like watch men, waiters in restaurants and labourers. Some people (very small portion) have small businesses in the local market and a few are government employees.

The population of the Tehsil is more than 85,000 persons. It was about 79,000 according to 1998 census.[4] The central town Koozkalai has an approximate population of 6,500+ persons. Literacy rate in Martung is very low; less than 7% for male and less than 1% for female on the average. This figure is a little high for larger villages like Kabalgram, Koozkalai, Shaga, Karindara and Manzkalai. There was only one secondary school for boys in the area till 2006, and a few middle and primary schools for both boys and girls. Number of students and level of education both are very much below standards in all the educational institutes.[5]

Board near the Shrine of Martung Babajee

The people have rich culture and great moral values. Unlike the general image of Pathans, Martungis are peace loving people. Tribal enmities are very rare. Some of the typical Pathan cultures like Hujra and Jirga are still active in most of the villages. The inhabitants of Martung mainly belong to Aziz Khel or Azikhel section of the major Pathan tribe Yousafzai. Pashto is the major local language of all the inhabitants. Very few families in far hilly areas speak Gujri as their mother tongue and Pushto as their second language. Being national language of the country Urdu is understood by most of the people.

All of Martung people are Sunni Muslims by religion. Maulana Khan Bahadur (1898?~1976) known as Martung Babajee has been the well-known religious and spiritual figure in the history of Martung. Religious students from whole of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Afghanistan used to come to Martung and seek religious knowledge during his lifetime.

Hakeem Sahib of Alamibanda is one of the notable figures of Martung, renowned for his so-called specialty in old traditional medicines. He is not conventionally educated in medicines and has inherited some remedies and recipes from his forefathers. He has got countrywide fame for one of his recipes that he uses for the treatment of cancer. Being not formally authorized to practice medicine, some people may object the authenticity of his medicines and treatment; disappointed patients of cancer however visit him from all over the country with the hope that they will spend the remaining moments of their lives with less pain after using his medicine..

Basic Health Unit Martung

A dispensary was opened by government of the former Swat State in nineteen sixties. There used to be two dispensers with supporting staff who provided first aid to the people. The condition remained as it till early nineteen eighties when the dispensary was upgraded to Basic Health Unit by the government. A post of Medical Officer was also created in the unit. The unit however lacks in medicines, tools and basic facilities regarding health. Post of Medical Officer also remains vacant for most of the time. The unit faces a lot of issues even to handle medical emergencies and provide first aid to the patients.

Building of High School Martung

Government High School Martung is the oldest educational institute in the area. Middle School Martung opened by Government of the former Swat State in 1960s was upgraded to secondary level as High School Martung in 1980 and is still at the same position. This was the only secondary school in the Tehsil till 2006 when Middle School Titwalan and Middle School Pishlor were upgraded to secondary level. There are however a few middle and primary schools within the tehsil providing the so-called basic education to the children. Lacking in facilities even like chalk and black board, neither the teachers nor parents of the students take interest in the schools. Many of the primary schools are just Ghost Schools with no students and buildings. The only one middle school for girls in Koozkalai is facing severe shortage of teachers. Few politically appointed female teachers seldom visit the school; most of them have hired less educated poor girls for very small amount compared to their salary to impersonate them. A few private schools, however, have some female students comparatively in better educational environment to the government schools

Buner-Martung Link Road Under Construction near River Eitai

Government of the former Swat State had constructed an ordinary road (with no black topping) from Mingora to Martung via Puran. Though not black topped, the road was well maintained in the duration of Swat State till 1969 and was one of the best tracks at that time. After accession of the Swat State by Pakistan Government, the road had been neglected and there was no improvement till early nineteen nineties. In nineteen nineties, when Pir Muhammad Khan of Puran remained Member of Provincial Assembly for five consecutive times, he took interest in the portion of the road from Mingora to Puran and improved it a little bit, but its condition is still not up to the mark.

Another ordinary track road from Buner has also been constructed and joined with the existing road midway between Puran and Martung. This road is likely to be improved. It has provided a second option for the people to have link with the rest of the country especially in severe winter conditions when the other link is either blocked or very difficult to cross due to snowfall.

Martung-Chakesar link road is also being improved and is likely to provide an alternate way soon after its completion. Martung-Kabalgram road is yet another way to have access to Hazara Division from Kabalgram across the river Indus. This track is, however, in very poor condition and not usable except for specially designed jeeps. This was the only way of exit for the people of Puran and Martung when the Buner and Mingora roads were in-accessible because of the Taliban movement and the army operation against it in 2009. People have also constructed link tracks from the main road to many small villages by themselves either with no or very little help from the government.

Martung remained disconnected from the national grid and telephone network till 2006. In 2006–07, electricity supply was provided to Martung followed by telephone exchange. Mobile network was also made active in 2008. All these connections were badly suffered by the activities of Taliban and the army operation against them. Telephone network in the area has still not been restored.

A Martung woman fetching water

It is the very basic necessity of life Martung is still lacking in. Drinking and domestic water has been a problem in Martung since long. People used to bring water from the nearby springs for their house hold use till there was enough availability of such water for them. With increase in population, change in life style of the people and worse water conditions, people try to go for alternate options to get water. No proper water supply scheme is available within the area. (See Water Situation within this article for further details)