It lies 28 kilometres (17 mi) north of provincial capital Peshawar.

Former UK prime minister Winston Churchill once stayed at this fort during his service and part of expedition in the North West Frontier of India.

[3][8] A frontier skirmish in Shabqadar on 15 November 1916 marked the first time air power was used by British Raj authorities in regional warfare.

The population of Shabqadar, according to official census, over the years is shown in the table below.

The tehsil is administratively subdivided into 12 Union Councils of which the headquarter is Shabqadar town.