About Karakoram International University

The University was established in 2002 by a charter from the federal government on the orders of General Pervez Musharraf, President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

The University is situated against a dramatic backdrop of steep mountains at the confluence of the Gilgit and Hunza rivers.

The main campus of the university is located in Gilgit, the central town of Gilgit Baltistan. Gilgit has an airport, providing daily flights to Islamabad, punctuated by adverse weather conditions. The famous Karakoram Highway (KKH) connects Pakistan with China, passing through Gilgit. An offshoot of the KKH connects Gilgit with Skardu (Baltistan).

Gilgit gets very hot in June and July, whereas it is severely cold in December and January. However, travel by road and by air continues throughout the year.

The campus, situated on the University Road, is easily accessible from the airport and the bus station. Taxis are found all around the town and are a convenient method of transport.

Skardu Campus of KIU was inaugrated by the Cheif Minister Gilgit Balitistan Syed Mehdi Shah in July 2011. It is located at Hussainabad road Skardu.

According to its charter, KIU is to be a multi-campus university and is seeking to establish additional campuses where feasible, according to the availability of special support, local resources and indigenous expertise. Currently, the main campus has nearly 2300 students, nearly 100 faculty members and over a hundred administrative staff in sixteen academic departments. Skardu Campus has been started with four diciplines i.e. English, Computer Sciences, Business Management and Education.