Shikarpur
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| Nickname: Paris Of Sindh[1] | |
 Interactive map of Shikarpur | |
| Coordinates:27°57′N68°39′E / 27.950°N 68.650°E /27.950; 68.650 | |
| Country |  Pakistan |
| Province | Sindh |
| District | Larkana |
| Elevation | 13 m (43 ft) |
| Population | |
• City | 204,938 |
| • Rank | 42nd, Pakistan |
| Time zone | UTC+5 (PST) |
| Post code | 78100 |
| Calling code | 0726 |
Shikarpur (Sindhi:شڪارپور;Śikārpūr) is a city and the capital ofShikarpur District inSindh province ofPakistan. It is situated about 29 km west of the right bank of theIndus, with a railway station, 37 km north-west ofSukkur. It is the42nd largest city of Pakistan by population according to the 2017 census.
Shikarpur was founded in 1677 as the hunting ground ofMahars.[3]Shikarpur, the seat of civilisation, culture, trade and commerce acquired political and economic importance because of its strategic location on the map ofSindh, being directly accessible to those who came from Central and West Asia through theBolan Pass.
In the early 17th century this emerald city in the northern Sindh province of Pakistan became the nucleus of a historical trade center on a caravan route through theBolan Pass intoAfghanistan.[4] Shikarpur became the core of manufacturing including brass and metal goods, carpets, cotton cloth, and embroidery. Its great bazaar (covered because of the summer heat) is famous throughoutTurkistan and southern Asia.[5] The city's economic prosperity was underpinned by the concentration of several ShikarpuriBania communities known as theMultanis (though not all of them actually hail fromMultan). They were instrumental in increasing the importance of Shikarpur in the 18th century as the financial capital of theDurrani Empire.[4]
Like many urban areas in Sindh, the city of Shikarpur was predominantly populated byHindus prior to the partition of India.[4][6] However, the predominantlyMuslim population of Sindh supportedMuslim League andPakistan Movement. After theindependence ofPakistan in 1947, theSindhi Hindu minoritymigrated toIndia while the Muslims fromIndia, called theMuhajirs, settled down in theShikarpur District.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 45,335 | — |
| 1961 | 53,910 | +1.75% |
| 1972 | 70,924 | +2.52% |
| 1981 | 88,138 | +2.44% |
| 1998 | 134,883 | +2.53% |
| 2017 | 195,437 | +1.97% |
| 2023 | 204,938 | +0.79% |
| Sources:[7] | ||
According to2023 census, Shikarpur had a population of 204,938. The population ofShikarpur District was estimated to be 1,231,481 in 2017.[8] The predominant population isSindhi. There are significantUrdu,Baloch,Brahui, speaking communities in Shikarpur. The population is mainlyMuslim. There is a smallHindu minority in the city as most Hindus migrated to India after independence in 1947.
According to the 2023 Census of Pakistan, Shikarpur City has an overwhelminglySindhi-speaking population. Sindhi is the dominant language, spoken by 98.89% of residents, andUrdu speakers form the second largest group at 0.47%. The remaining 0.64% of the population consists of a multitude of different languages spoken in Pakistan (mostlyBrahui andBalochi).[a][9][10]
Shikarpur District has an area of 2640 square kilometers, divided into four "talukas":
Its borders meet with districts ofLarkana,Jacobabad,Khairpur, andSukkur. Twonational highways (N-65 &N-55) intersect in the city of Shikarpur, so it can well be termed as one of the junction points of the four provinces.
The district has a total road length of 920.0 kilometers, including 125.0 kilometers of National Highways and 195.0 kilometers ofprovincial highways. It is, thus, deficient in road density (0.35 km/Km2) compared with recognized international parameters of development (1 km/Km2). During the last few years, creeping development activity has taken place and 71.0 kilometers of road, 94 schools and a number of schemes in drainage, health and other sectors have been completed, under various programs. Basically, agrarian economy of district Shikarpur is dependent upon non-perennial irrigation system, so the district is always in semi-drought conditions. The last spell of drought is particularly notable as it created heavy unemployment and unsustainable poverty, which without any doubt created serious law and order situations.
The District is bounded on the north and east byJacobabad District in the south bySukkur District on the west byIndus River andLarkana District.
The town consists of seven gates named Lakhi-dar,[11] Hathi-dar, Hazari-dar, Civi-dar, Karan-dar, Wagono-dar, Khanpur-dar, and one window named Siddiqui Mari.[12]
Located in the center of the old city, Dhak Bazaar or covered market is a long, narrow street with shops on either sides. It is covered with woodwork of pure teak. It has been serving as a cool shade during the hot summers. Shikarpur along with other contemporary cities likeBukhara,Samarkand, andIstanbul at that time had a coveredstreet market.
Notable educational institutes located in Shikarpur includeShaikh Ayaz University andChellaram and Seetaldas College.[13] Institutes have their own libraries, but there is only onepublic library in Shikarpur named "Qadir Bux Bedil Library".[14]
