| Pa-O Self-Administered Zone | |
| Native Name: | |
| Settlement Type: | Self-administered zone |
| Mapsize: | 200px |
| Pushpin Label Position: | bottom |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Myanmar |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  Myanmar |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Shan State |
| Subdivision Type2: | No. of Townships |
| Subdivision Name2: | 3 |
| Seat Type: | Capital |
| Seat: | Hopong |
| Population Demonym: | Pa'O |
| Population Total: | 380,427[1] |
| Timezone: | MMT |
| Utc Offset: | +6.30 |
| Elevation Ft: | 3541 |
The Pa'O Self-Administered Zone (Burmese: ပအိုဝ်းကိုယ်ပိုင်အုပ်ချုပ်ခွင့်ရဒေသ in Burmese pronounced as /pəʔo̰ kòbàɪɰ̃ ʔoʊʔtɕʰoʊʔ kʰwɪ̰ɰ̃ja̰ dèθa̰/), also abbreviated as Pa'O SAZ, as stipulated by the 2008 Constitution of Myanmar, is a self-administered zone consisting of three townships in Shan State. [2] [3]
Pa'O SAZ's official name was announced by decree on 20 August 2010.[4]
In the wake of the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état and ensuing civil war, Pa'O youths, like many throughout the country, formed and joined resistance forces like the Pa-O National Defence Force, in opposition to military rule.[5] [6]
On 24 February 2023, fighting began in Pinlaung Township, forcing more than 5,000 villagers to flee, including most villagers from Namneng.[7] [8] On 11 March 2023, the village of Namneng became the site of the Pinlaung massacre, during which Myanmar Army troops killed at least 30 civilians, including 3 Buddhist monks.[9]
The zone is currently under the de facto control of the Pa-O National Organisation.
The Zone is divided into three townships:
The three townships are administratively part of Taunggyi District.