The word Kohistan literally means land of mountains (koh'i mountain, 'stan' land)' and is one of the most isolated and the most deprived district not only in the former (now devolved) Hazara Division but in the entire North West Frontier Province (NWFP). Swat is situated to its west, Chilas, Darial and Tangir on the northern side and Naran, Kaghan and Alai valley surround Kohistan from the southern and eastern sides. Dassu is the divisional headquarter, whereas Pattan, Palas and Dassu are the three Tehsils of Kohistan District. It is located in the heart of the Himalayas from 34.40 to 30.35 degrees altitude and from 75.30 to 50.72 degrees longitude. The total area of the District is 7,492 Km2.The River Indus flows through Kohistan and divides it socially and culturally. Kohistan is one of the least developed districts in the country and its national significance is the Karakurum Highway. This road is the main source of trade, transportation and link between Pakistan and China. The ancient Silk Road has long been a thoroughfare for the tourists, traders and conquerors from Central Asia and in the past, business delegations would use this passage to travel up to Europe and the Little Asia (Kochak). Kohistan is where the famous Hindukush, Karakuram and Himalayan mountain systems meet and serve as a natural boundary for environmental regions in the chains of Himalayan, Karakurum and Hindukush mountains. This uniqueness of the mountains system also results in rich flora and fauna and therefore gives home to unique species such as the Western Tragopan pheasant and the Snow Leopard.

People of Hohistan: Kohistan is divided into to east and west banks by the River Indus . Its western bank, up until 1976 was called Abasin Kohistan included in Swat district and the eastern part known as Yaghistan (the rebellious land) and popularly known as Hazara Kohistan. On the western bank, Bankhar, Duber, Jijal, Pattan, Keyal, Seo, Razqa, Kandia and Gabral are located while on the eastern bank are situated the valleys of Darra Madkhel, Batera, Kolai, Palas, Jalkot, Sumar, Sazin, Shatyal and Harban

Population of Hohistan: District Kohistan covers an area of 7492 sq. Kilometres. The capital lies at Dassu and the District is divided into three Tehsil's namely Palas, Pattan and Dassu. According to the demographic survey of 1981, the population of district Kohistan is about one million. The average literacy rate is around two percent, but the actual literacy rate based on the field data shows that this rate is three times more.

Economy of Hohistan: The people in Kohistan largely depend on livestock for their livelihood and this is also the reason for their seasonal migration to sub-alpine and alpine pastures of Kohistan and neighbouring valleys and districts. Agriculture development is comparatively poor with only one crop growing in high altitudes and two in the lower areas. Cultivation of crops such as barley and rice has almost been given up. People usually keep cows, sheep, goats and bullocks along with buffalos in small numbers. Milk of these animals is not usually sold, but by-products of milk such as butter, are. Other by-products such as wool and skin are utilized for house-consumption and are also sold in the market.Cash income is rare and people resort to the sale of timber, such as Deodar, Pine, Spruce, Acacia and Oak. Sale of medicinal herbs is also common though there is no check, which impact the seasonal removal of these plants has on the overall population of the species or on the health of the ecosystem.Besides this, people are also involved in the sale of fuel-wood, farm products such as walnuts and walnut bark (vernacular: dindasa). Honey is also sold in local and provincial markets. In winter season, the local men go to urban areas in search of work. Mansehra district is inhabited by a large number of tribes as well as khels. The people are as mixed as the soil. Among them some are oldest inhabitants while the other arrived here in different periods of time. The first arrival of the latter group is dated back to the medieval times. Some invaded this area and settled here while some others came to seek shelter. In ancient times these people had accepted Buddhism but later on they shifted to Hinduism when it gained power after a long while. In the medieval period the Muslims introduced Islam to them. The inhabitants of Mansehra speak Pushto, Hindko, Gojri, Urdu, Kohistani and Kashmiri languages. Hindko, Pushto and Gojri are spoken by the majority while Urdu being the national language is spoken and understood throughout the District. Kohistani and Kashmiri are spoken by a very small number of people who migrated to Mansehra in different times from Kohistan and Kashmir respectively.

Abbottabad | Batagram | Haripur | Kohistan | Mansehra