Khyber Pakhtunkhwah

Formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), the land of gallant Pashtuns, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) is one of the four administrative provinces of Pakistan. From the Himalayan Mountains in the north of the province to the desolate plains in the south, the Province has many marvels to present including the remote Kalash valleys housing the pagan Kalasha tribe in the northern part of Chitral, the remains of Gandhara civilization in Swat and annexing regions including UNESCO World Heritage sites, the mighty Hindukush mountain range for ultimate adventures in Chitral and the Kaghan Valley, the lush green Hazara district, hills of Murree, concentrations of major tourist attractions in the oldest living city of Peshawar and much more.

KPK is the smallest province of Pakistan (third-largest by population and economic contribution) covering 101,741 km² and is home to some 35.53 million people (2017 census). Geographically, Gilgit-Baltistan and northern Azad Kashmir are located to the northeastern of the mountainous region; the Federal Capital of Islamabad and Punjab cover the southeastern section; the northern tip of Balochistan makes up the southern border of the province, while Afghanistan makes up the 1100 km along the northwestern section of the province.

Today’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has for centuries been a gateway to the subcontinent. Historically, its strategic location made the province home to some of the grand civilizations yet remained prey to successive invasions under various empires because of its proximity to the Khyber Pass. From Persians, Greeks, Mauryans, Afghans, Sikhs, and the British Empire; all have left strong imprints at various points in history. Today, the ruins of the ancient kingdom of Gandhara spread in major areas of the province making it one of the alluring regions of the world. Major archaeological sites preserved across KPK include Gor Khatri in Peshawar; Takht-Bhai Monastery, Seri Behlol and Shabaz Gari in Mardan; Asoka rock edicts in Swabi and Mansehra; Bhamala stupa in Haripur; Buddhist heritage in Swat; Piplan and Julian sites in Taxila; and forts, temples and excavations in D.I.Khan. KPK has several well-established museums housing Gandhara, ethnological, and Islamic galleries while other monuments of interest including forts, historic buildings and religious sites. The entire region is abundant in tourist attractions that have a universal significance.

The landscape of KPK is incredibly diverse and divided into three major zones geographically. The Northern mountainous Zone is a region that consists of the remarkable valleys of Swat, Galiyat, Kaghan, Naran, Kalash, Chitral, and Dir. Likewise, The Central Zone consists of the oldest living city of Peshawar which has been a seat of various successive civilizations that left a strong imprint in the region making great history for the generations. The Southern Zone of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is made up of Kohat, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Tank and Dera Ismail Khan, featuring rugged, dry hills and vast rough plains with patches of alluvial agricultural fields.

KPK has an international airport in Peshawar and domestic airports in Swat and Chitral while a network of road connects all major cities and provinces of Pakistan. However, some destinations are seasonal including the Kaghan Valley and remote tourists sites in Chitral that remain closed during the peak winter season.
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