Shikarpur District

Infobox Pakistan district
district = Shikarpur District
area = 2512
population = 880,438
pop_year = 1998
density = 398 (1998)
established =
nazim = Muhammad Arif Khan
naib_nazim = Taqi Abbas Kamario
tehsils=4
languages =
website =

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region= Sindh
caption=

Shikarpur district (Urdu: شڪارپور ) is a district in the Sindh province of Pakistan, the city of Shikarpur is the capital. It is spread over an area of 2,512 sq.km, according to the 1998 census of Pakistan it had a population of 880,438 of which 23.51% were urban. [ [http://www.urckarachi.org/Population%20Table-5.htm Urban Resource Centre (1998 Census figures] ]

The Shahi Bagh, which stands neglected today, was known for its thriving vegetation and scented flowers. At one time Shahi Bagh had a zoo with large population of lions, cheetahs, bears and wild boars. These animals were later shifted to Karachi Zoo. The garden had a wooden pavilion that was designed by Perston Phel and constructed by Sir W. Merewether in September 1871. Many other public and private gardens and open spaces of Shikarpur have vanished.

The Covered Bazaar, Contemporary cities of that time - Bukhara, Samarkand, and Istanbul - had bazaars with covered streets. Shikarpur's main bazaar too was covered. The long and narrow bazaar lined with shops on both sides almost passes through the centre of the old city.

Administration

The district is subdivided into 4 talukas these are: [ [http://www.lgdsindh.com.pk/shikarpur2.htm DISTRICT GOVERNMENT Shikarpur] ]

* Garhi Yaseen
* Khan Pur
* Lakhi
* Shikarpur

As per the 1998 census of the country, Shikarpur district had a population of 0.880Million out of which 0.212 million (24%) was urban. Following are the demographic details of the district:

Religion
Islam:98.03%
Hinduism:1.80%
Chiristianity:0.09%
Ahmaddiya:0.04%
Others:0.05%

Hindus form 6.14% of the urban population of the district

Languages
Sindhi: 95.77%
Urdu:1.81%
Balochi:1.01%
Punjabi:0.24%
Pashto:0.22%
Seraiki:0.60%
Others:0.36%

History

, and its merchants have dealings with many towns in Central Asia. It has seven gates like Hathi Gate, Lucky Gate etc. It is famous for its pickles and sweets. It has a large market and manufactures cotton cloth and pottery. Because of its rich history. Shikarpur used to be called an "Old Paris" because of unknown reason while some people thinks that it was called an "Old Paris" because of its modern building of that time but some things that it was because of some perfume or attur industry in the Shikarpur.

Geography

Shikarpur District borders the districts of Larkana, Jacobabad, Khairpur and Sukkur. Two National Highways (N-65 & N-55) intersect the city of Shikarpur, making it the junction points of 4 provinces.

Chak, Beechangi a town in taluka Lakhi, has an important place in the district politically, socially and economically besides the main Shikarpur city.its Paris of the Past

Mian-Jo-Goth,a historical village in Taluka Khanpur is the second biggest town in Khanpur Taluka.

Infrastructure

Shikarpur District was famous for education and other civic amenities until the first half of the 20th Century, throughout undivided India these included, Rau Bahadur Udhau-Das Tara Chand Hospital, Heeranand Ganga Bai Ladies Hospital, Chella Ram and Seetal Das College, two old High Schools now known as school No:1 & 2 and Girls College here, are few dignified and marvellous towers, showing outstanding standards of Shikarpurians during that era. For security the city was then protected by seven gates & one window. Now, infra-structure being old constructed, is experiencing lot of problems. Heavy inflow of rural populace, has further burdened this old system, needing immediate over-hauling. District Shikarpur is having total road length of 920.0 kilo meters, including 125.0 kilo meters National Highways and 195.0 kilo meters Provincial Highways. It is thus deficient in road density (0.35 Km2 ) compared with recognized international parameters of development, ( 1km2 ). During last few years, the creeping development activity has taken pace and 71.0 kilo meters of road, 94 nos. schools and number of schemes in drainage, health and other sectors have been completed, under various Programmes. Basically agrarian economy of district Shikarpur, is dependent upon non-perennial irrigation system, so the district is practically in Semi Drought Conditions always. Last spell of drought has further worsened this situation, creating heavy unemployment and unsustainable poverty, which without doubt creates serious law & order situations.

References

External links

* [http://sindhdevelopmentinstitute.blogspot.com/2005/03/shikarpur-economic-profile.html Shikarpur at Sindh Development Institute]