[5] Khunjerab National Park was established primarily as a means to protect the Marco Polo sheep (as well as snow leopards and bharal) living in the area.

[6][7] The borders of the park were mapped by George Schaller of the Wildlife Conservation Society in 1974, after a short field survey.

Because of this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature commissioned Norwegian biologist Per Wegge to do a wildlife survey of the park in 1988.

Over half of the park is above 4,000 m. Khunjerab Pass, the gateway to China via the Karakoram Highway, is at 4,934 m. There is an ATM considered as the world's highest ATM at a height of 4,693 metres (15,397 ft) above sea level, installed by National Bank of Pakistan is located near the China-Pakistan border cross at Khunjerab Pass.

[12] The primary purpose of this park was to provide protection to the endangered Marco Polo sheep, which is only found in this area in Pakistan.