The district's headquarters are located at Alpuri,[2] while the largest city and commercial center is Besham.

[3] Shangla comprises five subdivisions, Alpuri, Puran, Chakesar, Martung and Besham tehsils.

This was primarily due to the efforts of Haji Badi uz Zaman, a political leader and community figure who was assassinated in 1994, and his son, Afsar ul Mulk.

[12] Shangla district consists of small valleys and is situated between the hillocks and is surrounded by high mountains full of forests comprising Pindrow Fir, Morinda Spruce, Blue Pine (Kail), Chir Pine and Deodar Cedar trees.

[16] In November 2022, the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mahmood Khan, inaugurated University of Shangla.

[19] 2024 Amir muqam pakistan muslim league N - Shangla is highly diverse in terms of animal fauna.

[20] Insect In recent research article, new distribution record for Idricerus decrepitus from Chakesar Shangla.