Lowari Pass

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Photo of the tunnel that has been created. Photo Credits: Zain Abbass(UrbanPK.com)

Lowari Top is a pass that connects Chitral with Dir in Northern Areas, Pakistan. Lowari Top is a relatively low pass, only 10,230 feet high, which makes it by far the lowest pass to enter Chitral, the rest all being 12,000 to 15,000 feet high.

Lowari Top is closed by snow from late November to late May every year. During this time, jeeps cannot cross so men must travel by foot. This is dangerous, as there are high mountains on each side of Lowari Top, and a deadly avalanche can come at any moment without warning.

Every winter a few men are killed by avalanche while crossing Lowari Top. Their bodies are buried under the snow and it is only when the Summer comes and the snow melts that their bodies are found and their fate learned.

Nevertheless, Lowari Top remains popular because it is the shortest route from Chitral to Peshawar. The other way would be down the Kunar River to Jalalabad through hostile Afghan Territory or the much longer route across Shandur Top to Gilgit.

Lowari Top crosses the Hindu Raj Mountains, a spur of the higher Hindu Kush. On the Chitral side of Lowari Top are the people of Ashret, who speak the Phalura language and were assigned by the Mitar of Chitral to be the guardians of Lowari Top.

On the Dir side reside Gujjars, some of whom make their living as porters carrying loads across Lowari Top.

In 1954, the King of Chitral was killed when his airplane crashed into Lowari Top. Even today, PIA pilots often turn back because of winds and fear of crossing Lowari Top.

The word "Top" is interesting. It is believed not to be the English word "top" but to be a word from an ancient language no longer spoken there.

The Lowari Top is one of the four major mountain passes to enter Chitral. The others are the Dorah Pass from Badakshan in Afghanistan, Shandur Top from Gilgit, and Broghol from the Wakhan Corridor in Afghanistan.

There are constant proposals to dig a tunnel or a ditch through the Lowari Pass. An attempt was made to dig a tunnel under the Lowari Pass in 1980 but was abandoned after only a few hundred feet. The current President of Pakistan recently announced a new plan to build the Lowari Tunnel.

According to recent developments a Korean company has started work on the tunnel. Work is going quite fast and equipment is being brought in by heavy lift helicoptors. According to the manager of the project it will take around 4 years to complete and open for the public.