Sukhi Development Foundation (Sukhi) is implementing a project with an overall objective to empower the Bakarwals, Indigenous People’s Community, living in mountainous regions of Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK), Pakistan. The Bakarwals is a nomadic community which rear meat producing animals (sheep & goats) for livelihoods. 

The project is financed by International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) through its partner organization, TEBTEBBA-Indigenous Peoples’ International Center for Policy, Research and Development, based in Philippines. The aim of the project is to document the traditional knowledge of Bakarwals, the indigenous community of AJK-Pakistan, about the medicinal plant species found in the mountainous regions of AJK-Pakistan.  The Bakarwals have a mobile type of nomadic life. Their economic life depends heavily on green pastures and forests. They are highly ignored people, especially in terms of provision of basic social services of health and education. From hundreds of years, the Bakarwals have their specific travelling routes in mountains of Neelam Valley, Deosai Plains and Northern Areas of Pakistan. Before every winter, they travel on foot, along with their hundreds of thousands goats and sheep towards the Potohar Plains of Punjab, Pakistan.

We empower the Bakarwals, Indigenous People’s Community, living in mountainous regions of Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK), Pakistan.