Buner District
Buner was upgraded from a Swat tehsil to a full district in 1991. It is known for large marble reserves and the shrine of Pir Baba, and remains one of the least urbanized districts in the province (0% recorded urban population in the 2017 census).
Basic Information
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Daggar |
| Area | 1,865 km² |
| Population (2023 Census) | 1,016,869 (2017 Census: 897,319) |
| Tehsils | 6 - Chagharzai, Daggar, Gadezai, Gagra, Khudu Khel, Mandanr |
| Union / Village Councils | 27 Union Councils, 105 Villages (2018-19 baseline) |
Source: PBS 2023 Digital Census (population, area, density, literacy, tehsils); KP Development Statistics 2018 - 19 (union/village council counts).
Educational Institutes
| Institution | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Schools | 430 | 189 | 619 |
| Middle Schools | 55 | 35 | 90 |
| High Schools | 36 | 8 | 44 |
| Higher Secondary Schools | 24 | 14 | 38 |
| Mosque Schools | - | - | 9 |
Degree Colleges: 4 (boys) + 1 (girls); Polytechnic Institute: 1; Private Primary Schools: 24; Private Middle-to-Higher-Secondary Schools: 58; University: 1 (Abdul Wali Khan University, Buner campus).
Literacy: 38% overall (PSLM 2014-15) - Male 61%, Female 18%
Source: KP Development Statistics 2018-19
Health Facilities
| Institution | Number | Beds |
|---|---|---|
| Hospitals | 4 | 303 |
| Dispensaries | 8 | - |
| Rural Health Centers | 4 | 40 |
| Basic Health Units | 18 | - |
| Leprosy Clinics | 3 | - |
| TB Clinics | 1 | - |
| Private Medical Practitioners | 23 | - |
Source: KP Development Statistics 2018-19
Police Stations
- Police Station Daggar
- Police Station Elam
- Police Station Batara
- Police Station City Swari
- Police Station Pir Baba
- Police Station Nagrai
- Police Station Nawagai
- Police Station Gagra
- Police Station Jowar
- Police Station Gulbandi
- Police Station Totalai
- Police Station Chenglai
Total: 12
Civil Courts
The District Consist of 16 Civil Courts
National Assembly
| Constituency | Member (party) |
|---|---|
| NA-10 Buner | MNA Gohar Ali Khan (SIC) |
Source: Election Commission of Pakistan, 2024 General Election. Member photographs are not shown on this page.
Provincial Assembly
- PK-25 Buner-I: Riaz Khan (SIC)
- PK-26 Buner-II: Syed Fakhr e Jehan (SIC)
- PK-27 Buner-III: Abdul Kabir Khan (SIC)
Priority Issues & Challenges
- Road infrastructure — Buner has approximately 1,093 km of roads, including major district roads and link roads. Mountainous terrain and scattered settlements continue to create challenges for road connectivity and access to markets and services.
- Education — Buner has a literacy rate of around 45.8%, with 64.7% male literacy and 26.6% female literacy. The district continues to face challenges related to girls’ education, school access, and teacher availability in remote areas.
- Health — Healthcare facilities remain limited, with 5 hospitals, 347 beds, 7 Rural Health Centres, and 32 Basic Health Units serving a 2023 population of about 1.0 million. Shortages of specialists and healthcare equipment affect service delivery.
- Basic services and water supply — Around 68% of households have access to improved drinking water sources, while rural communities continue to face gaps in sanitation, clean water supply, and basic infrastructure.
- Economic development and employment — Buner’s economy relies on agriculture, livestock, marble mining, and small-scale trade. The district has significant marble reserves, but limited industrial processing, infrastructure gaps, and fewer employment opportunities restrict economic growth.