Ziarat is a small district, peaceful, and more easily manageable than most other districts in the province. Its land under plough is small, but qualitatively it is highly productive as evidenced by its value productivity per hectare and per capita. It has little industry, but the trading sector is expanding well. It is an important tourists resort. In the summer season thousands of tourists visit Ziarat town and are a good source of income and employment for the local population. Tourism is in fact its major industry and offers great potential for development.

Unlike other districts in its division, Ziarat's health and education sectors are performing well. The district's administration's co-ordination with the line departments, local bodies and NGOs, is better in this district as compared to others in the division.

The district has great potentials in the following areas of activity:

• Horticulture, both horizontally- by planting more orchards if due attention is given to the recharge of ground water levels, and vertically - through more scientific management of production and marketing.
• Tourism, by providing more facilities, developing new sites, etc as proposed by Ziarat Valley Development Authority and Tourism Development Department.
• Human Resource Development, by providing opportunities for higher and technical education for men as well as women.
• Micro-Enterprise for Women, by providing training and incentives to women for producing embroidery, tapestry, etc.
• Forestry, which is a strong sector of this district, and which needs further development because of its great positive implications for environment and as an attraction for tourists.

 A major constraint of the district is its extreme cold in winter due to which a substantial part of its population migrates out every year for several months. This factor has to be taken as given. Means have, however, to be found to minimize the problems caused by seasonal migration, and also to minimize the migration itself. Better houses, all weather access roads, supply of natural gas (through pipeline) up to Ziarat town, mobile dispensaries, etc. are suggested by the local people as possible means to the desired end.

 Inadequacy of funds for the district's development is an equally serious constraint. All government departments, and especially the local bodies are starved of funds. Because of lack of funds and also due to lack of financial incentives for government officials, the district's departments' efficiency is badly affected.

 Women in the district are conspicuous by their absence in the mainstream of socio-economic development. This does not mean that they do not participate in productive activity. They are very much there e.g. in agriculture and livestock, Social taboos, however, prevent their participation in outdoor paid work such as teaching, nursing, jobs in micro enterprises - embroidery units etc. Local men do not consider it appropriate for their women to take up out door jobs, while women from other places, even if not exposed to this kind of constraint, do not come here in the needed number.

 The district has more potential than constraints. Its greatest promise for development lies in speedy development of tourists infrastructure. As tourism develops, the district will not only experience growth in income and employment, but also, and more importantly, find exposure to positive outside influences which will transform it, economically as well as socially more rapidly.

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