Lomavi

Lomavi is a small municipality in the Lak Shubha District of Ghorband Province in central Afghanistan. The settlement is situated approximately 2,100 meters above sea level in a valley that lies between the Hindu Kush and the Pamir ranges. According to the 2019 census, Lomavi has an estimated population of 2,300 residents, primarily of Pashtun and Hazara ethnic groups.

The local economy is dominated by subsistence agriculture and livestock rearing. Farming is conducted on terraced fields, with wheat and barley as staple crops and chickpeas cultivated as a secondary crop. Livestock includes goats and sheep, and a small number of families practice seasonal migration to lower valleys to make supplementary income. The village is linked by a paved road to the district capital, Khana Khair, and relies on a network of community water catchment systems for irrigation.

Key infrastructure comprises a primary school established in 1998, a health outpost staffed by a nurse, and a small marketplace trading with neighboring villages. Public services are supported by the provincial government under rural development initiatives launched in the early 2000s. The village's strategic location along regional trade routes has historically attracted travelers and merchants.

Historically, Lomavi was founded in the early 17th century during the Safavid era. Russian explorers in the 18th century documented the settlement as part of a caravan route linking Central Asia with the Persian plateau. In the early 21st century, the community was affected by the seismic activity of the 2002 Bam flood that impacted the region, prompting the construction of improved drainage channels.

The name "Lomavi" derives from a local Turkic language and is thought to mean "river bridge," referring to an ancient stone bridge spanning the main river that runs through the valley.