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Larkana Profile

Historic Background  

In history books Larkana is first mentioned in the "Tuhfatulakram", a book written in Kalhora period. Even in this book, nothing is told about the origin of the city. Larkana is discussed in later histories like "Tareekh Taza Navai Muarka", "Lab-Tareekh-e-Sindh", and in travelogues of foreign travellers. In histories of pre-Kalhora period, such as "Chach Nama", "Aeen-e-Akbari", "Tareekh-e-Masoomi", and "Tareekh-e-Mazhar Shah Jahani", nothing is found about this city. This reveals that Larkana exerted its political, cultural, and economic importance during the period of Kalhoras. This city possibly did not exist before this period or, if existed, was a small village of no imortance.

(Translated from "Larkana Tareekh je Aaeene men" by Dr Memon Abdul Majeed Sindhi)
 

Role of the City  

Larkana is the most important settlement in the Western Upper Sindh.  Being the hometown of many political Larkana, it exercises a country-wide influence.  Being district headquarter, Larkana is also a major administrative center.  Recently the city has been elevated to the status of division headquarter.  On this basis it is expected that its importance will further increase.

Regarding Services, Larkana is characterised  as a major center rendering a variety of services to a rich agriculture hinterland.  Information collected by PEPAC in 1985 indicated a ratio of about 33 inhabitants per shop in Larkana, a figure which if compared to the national standards infers that a considerable percentage of the customers come from outside the city.  The catchment population of Larkana for commercial services is estimated today at some 0.75 million people.  In spite of its importance as an administrative and service center, Larkana never managed to become up to now a center of 'export oriented ' industrial activities.  According to the 1981 census population figures, Larkana (with 123,000 inhabitants at that time), ranked 5^th in the Sindh Province and 23^rd in Pakistan.

Larkaa is performing high order functions in the health and education sectors.  The beneficiaries of these services originate not only from within the district but from the entire Sindh province.  Likewise in health, specialised services are available with the Chandka Medical College and Sheikh Zaid Hospitals where 50% of the patients in 1985 were from places outside the Larkana environs.

LOCATIONS

 

Location of the City  

Larkana city is the headquarter of Larkana District. Centrally located with respect to the district, Larkana lies on 27^o33' 39.60"north latitude and 68^o12'27.00" east longitude (coordinates of Lahori Regulator on Rice Canal in Larkana). To see the satellite map of Larkana, click here; Lahori Regulator will be at exact centre of the map. Sukkur is at a distance of about 85 km in east. Other important towns in vicinity of Larkana are Miro Khan and Naudero. The district shares its western boundaries with Baluchistan Province.
 

Population  

Population of Larkana is increasing rapidly, main reason of which is movement of people from villages to the city.  In 1891, population of Larkana was merely 12019 (6643 males and 5376 females).  In 1941, population was 28084 (10760 Hindu males, 4411 Muslim males, 9507 Hindu females, and 3406 Muslim females).  Area of Municipal Committee was 1250 acres in 1941.

(Larkana Sah Sebano, Page 519)

* Estimated from 1981 and 1990 figures.

Male-Female Population Ratio

Sources:    1972 and 1981 Census Figures.

                    1985 Socio-economic Sample Survey, Larkana ODP. Estimates

BOUNDARIES

The district is bounded on the north by Balochistan Province, on the east by Shikarpur and Khairpur districts and part of Nausheroferoz district, to the south, is bounded by the Dadu District and to the west by the Kohistan area of the Khirthar range, which separates it side, adjoining the Shikarpur, Khairpur and Nausheroferoz district.


PHYSICAL FEATUERS

Geographically, the district is divided into three parts viz, the Kohistan Tract, Central Canal Irrigation Tract and the Eastern Tract. The Western portion of the district comprising western parts of  Shahdadkot, Kamber and the Warah Talukas consists of the Kohistan area. A range of limestone hills and mountains referred to by the old writers as the “Hallar”, but generally known as the Khirthar range, extends along the whole western boundary of the district, with a breadth of 19 to 21 kilometers in a straight line.

The Khirthar range consists of an ascending series of ridges, running generally north to south with broad, flat valleys in between. These ridges are locally distinguished by different names, for example, the first line of hills is known as “Kakrio” (broken), the next as “Karo”(Black), and the third as “Pinaro” (Saffron coloured). The highest ridge of the range at its northern extremity is about 1,500 meters above the sea-level. The most elevated peak known as “Kute-ji-Kabar” (dog’s tomb) is 2064 meters above the sea-level.


IRRIGATION

The entire area of this district within the protective bounds (one on the western side to prevent hill torrents in rainy season and the other on the eastern side of the district to protect the canal irrigated area from rivers (floods) is irrigated by a network of canals viz. the Rice Canal,Dadu Canal, Warah Canal, Khirthar Canal and Saifullah Magsi Canal. The area irrigated by these canals is 870,127 acres.


COMMUNICATIONS

There is a network of metal led and katcha roads all over the district. All the Taluka Headquarters are connected with the District Headquarter either by road or by rail.

The Pakistan Railways runs through the district from north to south. Larkana itself is a railway junction.


FORESTS

The total area under forests is about 25532 hectares. Some of the important forests are Salihani, Agani,Nauabad, Amrote, Keti Chandka, Khuhra, Madeji, Khokhar, Tajudero, Visar, Adamji, Sharifpur, Dasu, Behman, Hassan Wahan, Gajidero, Abrepota, Beli Gaji, Bagi, Shahbeg, Gangherko and Tatri.


FESTIVALS

Four  man festivals are held annually in Larkana district, one in the honour of Pirsher at Taluka Larkana, other in memory of Mian Ghulam Siddique at Shahdadkot, the 3rd at Mirokhan Taluka in the name of Hakimshah Pat Waro and 4th fair is organized at Kambar Taluka in the memory of Mian Shahal Muhammad Kalhoro.


CULTURE & CUSTOM AND TRADITIONS

Majority of the population of the District is Muslim. The culture life of the Muslims is greatly influenced by the Islamic way of life. The pirs and murshids are held in high esteem and confidence amongst the Muslim particularly bym the illiterate masses of the rural areas. Urs ceremonies of pirs are regularly held at the their shrines. The Hindus also hold great confidence in Thakurs and Brahmans. The Brahmans usually perform spiritual rites of Hindus on special occasions.

The languages mostly spoken in this District are Sindhi, Balochi, Brohi and Urdu. However, Urdu is understood by a great majority of the population. Tablas, Dholaks, sarangis, alogozas changs and mutes are the main musical instruments and are played on the occasions of marriages, betrothal, Eids and melas. Songs of different kinds are sung by men as well as women on such occasions. Gharas (pitcher) are also used to make musical-rhythm. Both men and women dance jhumar is a popular dance in this area. Women do not dance in public amongst the male audience.

Religious Places  

Important Mosques

• Eid Gah Jamia Masjid

• Lahori Jamia Masjid

• Qasmia Masjid

• Allah Wari Masjid (Baqrani Road)

Jafri Imam Bargah is also an important religious place.  Shia Madarsa is a big under-construction project. So many other mosques are constructed by people of Larkana.

Churches

• St Joseph Catholic Church

• Protestant Church

Markets and Shopping Centers

• Shahi Bazaar

• Sonarki Bazaar

• Resham Gali

• Khatan (Pickle) Bazaar

• Seyoo Bazaar

• Machhi (Fish) Market

• Meat Market

• Sabzi (Vegetable) Market

• Sabzi Mandi

• John F. Kennedy Market

Awami Markaz was conctructed in Shaikh Zaid Colony area during Benazir era, but the building is now used for a school.