Gilgit District


Gilgit District is one of the districts of the Gilgit–Baltistan territory in northern Pakistan. It was formed in 1970 when Gilgit–Baltistan was federally administered as the "Northern Areas". It is bounded by the Wakhan Corridor to the north; Xinjiang to the northeast and east; Skardu, Astore and Diamer to the south; and Ghizer District to the west. The town of Gilgit is the capital of Gilgit District. According to the 1998 census Gilgit District had a population of 243,324.
The district includes Gilgit, the Bagrot Valley, Juglot, Danyore, Sultanabad,Naltar Peak, and the Nomal Valley. The highest peak in the district is Distaghil Sar, which is the seventh-highest peak in Pakistan and 19th-highest on Earth.

Administration

In 2009 the Pakistan's People's Party Government of Pakistan changed the status of the Northern Areas through a presidential ordinance and has renamed it as Gilgit–Baltistan.
The present Governor is Mir Ghazanfar, who is the constitutional head of the de facto provincial setup, assisted by an executive Chief Minister - Hafiz Hafeez ur Rehman - and a council of ministers.
Administration is by a tailor-made political and local government system. The local government system is based on a Legislative Council, elected by people in all six districts through voting, and headed by a speaker. Technocrats and women members are later elected/selected through a proper system.
The Chief Secretary is the administrative head of all departments, controlling all the affairs on behalf of the Chief Minister Government of Pakistan.
An Inspector General of Police heads the police department, with deputy superintendents in all six districts.

Judiciary

The main judicial structure in Gilgit–Baltistan comprises a High Court, composed of three judges selected by the government, supported by the Supreme Appellate Court.

Education

According to the Alif Ailaan Pakistan District Education Rankings 2015, Gilgit is ranked 35 out of 148 districts in terms of education. For facilities and infrastructure, the district is ranked 67 out of 148.

Geography

Only a part of the basin of the Gilgit River, i.e. Gilgit Valley, is included within the political boundaries of Gilgit District. There is an intervening width of mountainous country, represented chiefly by glaciers and ice fields, and intersected by narrow sterile valleys, measuring some to in width, to the north and north-east, which separates the province of Gilgit from the Chinese frontier beyond the Muztagh and Karakoram. Towering above Gilgit is Mount Rakaposhi at.

Rivers

The main rivers in the District are:
There are many tributaries of the above main rivers, some of which are Ghujerab River, Shimshal River, Hispar River, Naltar River and Yaheen River.

Passes