Skardu District

The Skardu District (Urdu: ضلع سکردو) is a district of Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan in the disputed Kashmir region. The district headquarters is the town of Skardu, which is also the division headquarters.

Skardu District is bounded on the east by the Ghanche District, on the south by the Kharmang District, on the west by the Astore District, on the north-west by the Rondu District and on the north by the Shigar district.

The highest peak in Skardu District is K2 (8,611 m), which is the highest peak in Pakistan and the second-highest in the world. The Baltoro Muztagh, the subrange of the Karakoram Mountains that includes the mighty peaks of K2 (8,611 m), Broad Peak (8,047 m), the Gasherbrums (8,000+ m), and Masherbrum (7,821 m), is located in Skardu District. Askole is the last settlement in the district for all treks to Concordia (the confluence of the Baltoro Glacier and the Godwin-Austen Glacier). The Biafo Glacier and a major part of the Hispar Glacier are also located in the Skardu District. Overall 27% of district consists of alpine and winter pastures, and 71% is either barren or permanently snow covered.

According to the Alif Ailaan Pakistan District Education Rankings 2015, the Skardu District is ranked 14th out of 148 districts of Pakistan in terms of education. For facilities and infrastructure, the district is ranked 89th out of 148 districts.

The Deosai Plateau is one of the highest plateaus in the world which in fall under the jurisdiction of Skardu District. Since centuries the people of Skardu including Sadpara Village, and Yultar Area (Newranga, Astana, Kushmara, Fapa, Kharpito etc) use Deosai as pasture land in summers for grazing there domesticated animals. The Deosai Plateau is the second- highest plateau in the world, after the Tibet Plateau. Famous places in the Deosai National Park are, Chogo Chu (Bara Pani), Naqpo Chu (Kala Pani), Shatong Nala, Sheosar Tso (Lake).

The major towns of Skardu District are:- Newranga, Hussainabad, Sadpara, Gamba, Kowardo, Qomrah, Sermik, Chunda, Tandal, Thorgu, Narh, Gol, Koshmara, Atana, Rgya Yul, Sondus, Kharpito, Fapa, Katpana, Shagharthang, Sok, Hoto, Shilla, Shigari Bala ,Basho, Kachura and Skardu town areas including Olding, Khargrong, Sakmaidan, Yultar, Haji Gam, Hassan Colony, Manthal, and Chumik.

People of the Skardu District are predominantly of the Shia sect of Islam, where 97% of the people are of the Shia sect, 2% are of the Noorbakshi sect, and 1% are of the Sunni sect.

The main lakes in the district are:

• Foroq Tso (Kachura Lake)
• Sadpar Tso (Satpara Lake)
• Kachura Tso (Shangrila Lake)
• Sheosar Tso (Sheosar Lake)
• Snow Lake

The Gondogoro Pass and Burgy La (Burgy Pass) is located in the Skardu District.

Geography of Gilgit–Baltistan