Our Programs
Heritage · Polo · Tourism — Three Pillars for Chitral's Future
Three Pillars, One Vision
The Yaftali Foundation channels the lifelong work of Amir Ullah Khan Yaftali into three interconnected programs — each designed to protect what makes Chitral extraordinary while building pathways for its communities to thrive.
Heritage Preservation
Safeguarding a Thousand Years of Chitrali Life
The valleys of Chitral hold a cultural inheritance that stretches back to the 11th century — a living record of the peoples, crafts, and traditions that flourished along the ancient Silk Road corridors of the Hindu Kush.
The Laspur Heritage Museum — the first of its kind in the Chitral-Gilgit-Baltistan corridor — houses more than 100 carefully documented artifacts spanning weaponry, farming implements, freestyle polo equipment, musical instruments, textiles, pottery, and indigenous woodcraft.
Current Initiatives
- Digital Archiving: High-resolution documentation and 3D scanning of the complete museum collection
- Artifact Documentation: Systematic cataloguing with oral history recordings from community elders
- Satellite Exhibitions: Traveling exhibitions bringing Chitrali heritage to Islamabad, Karachi, and international venues
- Community Contributions: Families across Chitral are invited to contribute artifacts, photographs, or oral histories
- Volunteer Program: Trained volunteers assist with cataloguing, translation, and guided tours
Polo & Sports Development
Keeping the Game of Kings Alive
In the high valleys of Chitral, freestyle polo is not a sport — it is the heartbeat of community identity. This ancient form of polo — played without helmets, without umpires, without substitutions — has defined the character of mountain communities from Laspur to Gilgit.
The Yaftali Foundation's Polo and Sports Development Program operates youth polo training academies in Laspur and Upper Chitral, providing structured coaching to boys and young men between the ages of 12 and 25.
Building Toward Shandur
- Youth Academies: Training programs in Laspur and Upper Chitral for riders aged 12-25
- Equipment Provision: Full polo kits including mallets, boots, and protective gear
- Annual Tournaments: Local inter-village competitions as qualifying rounds for Shandur
- Horse Care & Breeding: Veterinary support to preserve the Badakhshan horse lineage
- Scholarship Program: Educational scholarships for promising young riders
Sustainable Tourism
Tourism That Serves the Mountains
The Laspur Valley and the Shandur corridor possess a grandeur that takes the breath away — turquoise glacial lakes, wildflower meadows stretching to the horizon, and a silence broken only by the wind and the call of the golden eagle.
We believe that tourism must be an instrument of conservation and community empowerment. Our approach begins with the principle that the communities of Laspur Valley must be the primary planners, operators, and beneficiaries of tourism in their homeland.
Community-Centered Experiences
- Eco-Tourism: Strict leave-no-trace protocols and sustainable trail maintenance
- Local Guide Training: Comprehensive certification covering navigation, first aid, and cultural interpretation
- Homestay Network: Authentic accommodations in Laspur's 8 villages with fair pricing
- Cultural Packages: Curated itineraries combining museum visits, live polo, and trekking
- Environmental Conservation: Annual clean-up drives and native tree planting programs
Every Contribution Strengthens a Pillar
Whether you donate, volunteer, contribute an artifact, sponsor a young polo rider, or visit as a responsible traveler — you become part of Chitral's living heritage.