| Settlement Type: | District of Azad Kashmir administered by Pakistan |
| Image Map1: | Kashmir region. LOC 2003626427 - showing sub-regions administered by different countries.jpg |
| Map Caption1: | A map showing Pakistani-administered Azad Kashmir (shaded in sage green) in the disputed Kashmir region |
| Coordinates: | 34.2°N 120°W |
| Coor Pinpoint: | Hattian Bala |
| Subdivision Type: | Administering country |
| Subdivision Name: | Pakistan |
| Subdivision Type1: | Territory |
| Subdivision Name1: | Azad Kashmir |
| Subdivision Type2: | Division |
| Subdivision Name2: | Muzaffarabad Division |
| Seat Type: | Headquarters |
| Seat: | Hattian Bala |
| Government Type: | District Administration |
| Leader Title: | Deputy Commissioner |
| Leader Name: | Nadeem Ahmed Janjua |
| Leader Title1: | District Police Officer |
| Leader Name1: | N/A |
| Leader Title2: | District Health Officer |
| Leader Name2: | N/A |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Area Land Km2: | 854 |
| Population Total: | 230,529 |
| Population As Of: | 2017 |
| Demographics Type1: | Languages |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Official |
| Demographics1 Info1: | Urdu |
| Demographics1 Title2: | Local |
| Population Density Km2: | 270 |
| Blank Name Sec1: | Number of Tehsils |
| Blank Info Sec1: | 3 |
Hattian Bala District (ur|{{Nastaliq|ضلع ہٹیاں بالا) is a district of Pakistan-administered Azad Kashmir in the disputed Kashmir region. The town of Hattian Bala is where the district headquarters are located. The Hattian Bala District was a part of the Muzaffarabad District until 2009 when it was made a separate district.
The Hattian Bala District was a part of the Uri Tehsil of the Baramulla District in Jammu and Kashmir, following the end of the first conflict between India and Pakistan. The initial clash between India and Pakistan ended with a truce, and Hattian Bala was incorporated into the Muzaffarabad District. The district of Hattian Bala was created in July 2009 under Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan's coalition government in Azad Kashmir.
There are two districts of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir bordering it on the north and east, and Bagh District and Muzaffarabad on the south. It has a population of 230,529 people.[1]
The rural urban ratio is 90:10. The majority of the rural population depend on agriculture, livestock, and forestry for subsistence. Many people work or are settled abroad in the Middle East, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and they support their families who they have left behind. The Hattian Bala District is primarily a hilly and mountainous region with stretches of plains along the Jehlum River, which enters the district at the LOC point at Chakothi and continues northwest through the Jehlum Valley. Due to its fast-flowing rivers, the Hattian Bala District has great hydroelectric potential. Hydroelectric power stations are located at Kathai, Leepa, and Sharian. The district's natural environment includes the valleys of Leepa, Khalana Chham, Ghail, Saina Daman Chamm, Dhani Shahdarrah, Charoi, Chinari, Jaskool, Chonoian, Bharyan (Lower Chonoian), and Chakar Salmia.
The main languages of the district are Pahari (native to about half of the population), Gujari (spoken by about a third), and Kashmiri (native to one out of six inhabitants).[2] [3]
The Hattian Bala District consists of three tehsils:[4]
The district council of Hattian Bala has 12 union councils (consisting of eight UCs from Constituency No. 5 and four UCs from Constituency No. 6), one municipal committee at Hattian, and one town committee at Chikar. The rural development department has three centers: Hattian, Leepa, and Chikar. The assistant director of LG&RDD Hattian is the administrative officer for rural development, with two project managers at each center.
According to the Alif Ailaan Pakistan District Education Rankings 2015, the Hattian Bala District is ranked 28 out of 148 districts in terms of education. For facilities and infrastructure, the district is ranked 112 out of 148.[5] The district has few colleges, so many people in the district attend the Allama Iqbal Open University or the AJK University at its main Muzaffarabad campus, at its Neelum campus, or at the recently inaugurated Hattian Bala campus, which has faculties for the teaching of the English Language, computer science, and business administration. Two areas in the district are renowned for education, having high literacy rates: Leepa Valley and the village of Pahal, located near the LOC. The district also has some private institutions, such as the READ Foundation Science College Hattian Bala, the READ Foundation Science College Chenari, and the Smart School Hattian Bala.