Karakoram Area Development Organization (KADO) is an indigenous initiative aimed to improve the socio-economic conditions of the local communities with a special focus on women, disabled people and other marginalized segments of the society.

The history of KADO begins in 1996 from Hunza Valley with a handicraft project to help disadvantaged people and in a short span of time it expanded in scope, scale, impact and programmatic dimensions in the whole province of Gilgit-Baltistan.

KADO, over a period of a decade, implemented diverse projects and developed successful models in Handicraft, Environment, Rehabilitation of Special People, ICT4D, Gems and Jewellery Development, Art and Culture, Knowledge Management, E-Governance, Micro-health Insurance, Agri-trading, Institutional Development and fostering Public Private Partnerships.

KADO is dedicated to promote entrepreneurship, economic growth and value added products in order to reduce poverty and marginality of women, special people and other disadvantaged segments of the society.