Ziarat (Urdu: ضلع زیارت) is a district in the north of Balochistan province of Pakistan. Ziarat town (situated at an altitude of about 2,400 meters) is the headquarters of the district, the sub-division, and also of the tehsil. The highest peak of Khalifat Hills, at an altitude of 11,400 feet (3,500 m), is located in Ziarat district.
Ziarat District was established in July 1986, previously being part of Sibi District.[1] The district, with a population of 52,855, is subdivided into two tehsils, Ziarat and Sanjawi. The latter is comparatively more densely populated, with a population of 32,456, while Ziarat tehsil has a population of 18,000. The district contains a total of ten Union Councils.[3]
As of the 2023 census, Ziarat district has 22,894 households and a population of 189,535. The district has a sex ratio of 103.02 males to 100 females and a literacy rate of 43.37%: 53.06% for males and 33.49% for females.[2][5] 78,905 (41.63% of the surveyed population) are under 10 years of age.[6] 49,402 (26.06%) live in urban areas.[2] 684 (0.36% of the surveyed population) are religious minorities, mainly Christians and some Hindus.[7] Pashto is the predominant language, spoken by 98.85% of the population.[8]
Ziarat has some of the oldest Juniper forests in the world.[9] A tourist destination, the economy of the district also benefits from orchards of apples and cherries. The Ziarat district has the highest Human Development Index of all districts in the province. The first Governor-General of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, spent last days of his life in Ziarat Residency in Ziarat.
30°25′N 67°30′E / 30.417°N 67.500°E / 30.417; 67.500