Ajay Kumar: Created a new article

2023-08-28T18:14:02Z

Created a new article

New page

{{Short description|District in Sindh, Pakistan}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=March 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Thatta District
| name =
| native_name = {{hlist|ٺٽو ضلعو|{{nq|ضلع ٹهٹہ}}}}
| native_name_lang = [[Sindhi Language|Sindhi]]
| settlement_type = [[List of districts in Sindh|District]] of [[Sindh]]
| image_skyline = {{Photomontage
|size = 250
|photo1a = PK Keenjhar Lake near Thatta asv2020-02 img7.jpg
|photo2a = Gate of Bhanbore Fort.jpg
}}
| imagesize =
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Top: [[Keenjhar Lake]]<br>Bottom: Bhandore Fort
| image_map = Pakistan - Sindh - Thatta.svg
| mapsize =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| subdivision_type = [[Pakistan|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Pakistan}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Provinces of Pakistan|Province]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Sindh}}
| subdivision_type2 = [[Divisions of Pakistan|Division]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Banbhore Division|Banbhore]]
| founder =
| seat_type = [[Headquarters]]
| seat = [[Karachi]] (1948 - 1956)
[[Thatta]] (from 1956)
| government_footnotes =
| government_type = District Administration
| leader_party =
| leader_title = [[Deputy Commissioner (Pakistan)|Deputy Commissioner]]
| leader_name = N/A
| leader_title1 = District Police Officer
| leader_name1 = N/A
| leader_title2 = District Health Officer
| leader_name2 = N/A
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 = 8,570
| population_as_of = 2017
| population_footnotes = <ref name=PBS>{{cite web|url=http://www.pbscensus.gov.pk:80/sites/default/files/bwpsr/sindh/THATTA_SUMMARY.pdf|url-status=dead|access-date=15 March 2023|title=Population of Thatta District per 2017 census|website=Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Government of Pakistan website|archive-date=27 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127053232/http://www.pbscensus.gov.pk:80/sites/default/files/bwpsr/sindh/THATTA_SUMMARY.pdf}}</ref><ref name=population/>
| population_total = 979,817
| population_density_km2 = auto
| timezone1 = [[Time in Pakistan|PST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5
| established_title = Established
| established_date = 1948
| blank_name_sec1 =
| blank_info_sec1 =
| blank1_name_sec1 = Number of [[List of tehsils of Sindh|Tehsils]]
| blank1_info_sec1 = 7
| demographics1_title1 = Main language(s)
| demographics1_info1 =
| website = [http://www.districtthatta.gos.pk]
}}

'''Thatta District''' ({{lang-sd|ٺٽو ضلعو}}, {{lang-ur|{{nq|ضلع ٹهٹہ}}}}) is located in the southern area, locally called ''Laar'', of the [[Subdivisions of Pakistan#Provinces and territories|province]] of [[Sindh]], [[Pakistan]]. Its capital is [[Thatta]]. It is home to a large necropolis of [[Makli]]. In 2013, several talukas were separated to form the new [[Sujawal District]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://dawn.com/news/1049252/thatta-split-to-make-sujawal-28th-district-of-sindh | title=Thatta Split to Make Sujawal 28th district of Sindh |newspaper=Dawn (newspaper) |access-date=4 April 2023}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Mamaidev astan.jpg|thumb|[[Mamaidev|Mamaidev Astan]] is a 13th century shrine]]
The capital of three successive native [[Sindhi people|Sindhi]] dynasties and later ruled by the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]]. Thatta was the capital of three successive dynasties, the traces of which are evident in the Makli necropolis, which spreads over a twelve square kilometer area. These dynasties are: [[Samma dynasty|Samma]] (1335-1520), [[Arghun dynasty|Arghun]] (1520-1555) and [[Tarkhan dynasty|Tarkhan]] (1555-1665).<ref>[https://www.dawn.com/news/753604/thatta-the-ancient-city-of-kings Thatta: the ancient city of kings] Dawn (newspaper), Published 2 October 2012, Retrieved 4 March 2023</ref> Thatta was constantly embellished from the 14th to the 18th century. The remains of the city and its necropolis provide a unique view of civilization in Sindh. Thatta, about {{convert|98|km|mi|abbr=on}} east of [[Karachi]]. Thatta also served as capital of [[Sindh]] and as a center for Islamic arts.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dawn.com/weekly/dmag/archive/011104/dmag11.htm|url-status=dead|title=Thatta: the glory that was|author=Omar Mukhtar Khan|newspaper=Dawn (newspaper)|archive-date=29 October 2008|date=4 November 2001|access-date=14 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029160545/http://www.dawn.com/weekly/dmag/archive/011104/dmag11.htm}}</ref>

Since the 14th century four Muslim dynasties ruled Sindh from Thatta, but in 1739 the capital was moved elsewhere and Thatta declined. It was believed that this was the place where [[Alexander the Great]] rested his legions after their long march. The town is dominated by the Great Mosque built by the Moghul Emperor [[Shahjahan]] which has been carefully restored to its original condition. The mosque's 33 arched domes give it superb acoustics and the tile work, a whole range of shades of blue, is equally fine.

Situated on the outskirts of the new town, it is surrounded by narrow lanes and multi-story houses made of plaster and wood which are top by badgers, the wind catchers designed to funnel cool breezes down into the interiors of buildings. They are also quite common in Hyderabad.

The bazaars of Thatta are known for hand-printed fabrics, glass bangles and Sindhi embroidery work in laid with tinny mirrors, one of the more world known handicrafts of Pakistan. Thatta appears to have scarcely moved out of the 18th century and is only slowly catching up with the modern world.

The shifting nature of the Indus makes it difficult to discern the exact location of ancient Thatta, but the name indicates its strong relation to the Indus. Thatta, derived from Thatti, Thatt or Thatto, a Sindhi word for a small settlement on riverbanks, was an important medieval city locally known as Nagar-Thato. All historic accounts paint Thatta as a populous and flourishing trading post and a refuge of saints and scholars.

Jam Nizamu-d Din or Jam Ninda, as he was affectionately known, ruled in Sindh's golden age as the leader of Samma-dynasty from 866 to 1461. The rise of Thatta as an important commercial and cultural center was directly related to his patronage and policies. The Samma-civilization contributed significantly to the evolution of the prevailing architectural style that can be classified as Sindhi-Islamic.

Thatta is famous for its [[necropolis]], which covers {{convert|10|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} on the Makli Hill, which assumed its quasi-sacred character during Jam Nizamu-d Din's rule. The site became closely interlinked with the lives of the people. Every year thousands perform pilgrimage to this site to commemorate the saints buried here. The graves testify to a period of four centuries when Thatta was a thriving center of trade, religion and scholarly pursuits and the capital of Sind. In 1768, Thatta's per-eminence was usurped by Hyderabad. Though many of the mausoleums and graves are dilapidated, many are still exquisite architectural examples with fine stone carving and glazed tile decoration.

Jam Nizamu-d Din's death was followed by a war of succession carried out between the cousins, Jam Feroz and Jam Salahu-d Din. The Moghul army took the opportunity and Thatta came under the Arghun dynasty. The refined tastes of the Arghun and later the Tarkhan, who came from the Timurid cities of Khurasan and Central Asia enhanced Thatta's cultural and architectural landscape.

The reign of Mirza Isa Tarkhan's son Mirza Baki however, was one of persecution. He became reputed as one of the cruelest rulers of Sind. Thatta witnessed the cold-blooded murder of the Arghuns and the persecution of people claiming nobility, or religious or scholarly eminence. Mirza Jani Beg is known to have worked to restore what Mirza Baki had destroyed. However, when Emperor Akbar sent Nawab Khan Khanan to subjugate Thatta, Mirza Jani Beg is said to have removed the people to Kalan Kot, a fortified town built for such occasions, and ordered Thatta to be razed.
Mirza Jani Beg negotiated with Mughals, and was taken to Emperor [[Akbar]] court where he was confirmed as the governor of Thatta, and in 1591, Sindh was annexed by the Mughal Empire. Mughal rule lasted till 1736 when Thatta passed into the hands of the Kalhoras. Thatta's importance began to gradually decline as the [[Indus River]] began to shift away and in 1768, [[Hyderabad, Sindh|Hyderabad]] was made the capital of Sindh by the [[Kalhora dynasty|Kalhora Nawabs]].

The [[United Kingdom|British]] annexed Sindh in 1843 and their immediate concern was to establish a communication network throughout Sindh. The municipality of Thatta was established by the British in 1854 and several vernacular and private schools, as well as a post office, a dispensary and a subordinate jail were built. The British established their residential areas away from the main city, on higher grounds, west of [[Makli]] necropolis. Thatta regained prosperity because of an improved communication infrastructure, though the city was never completely revived its prior importance as capital. The late nineteenth century saw a new class of merchants who took full advantage of the British need for services and goods. These merchants became rich and commissioned many buildings inspired by the elegant mansions constructed by the British throughout the British Empire.

Post-independence Thatta is rapidly growing and suffers from a severe lack of basic services. Heavy demands on the resources of the city, coupled with the general apathy on the part of the local administration, has resulted in the neglect of the city's historic center. The [[Makli]] monuments and other historic mosques, although of touristic value, are disregarded with nothing being done to preserve them.

In 1948, [[Thatta]] bifurcated from [[Karachi district]] and upgrade a separate district level.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Briefing of District Thatta - ppt download |url=https://slideplayer.com/slide/17089104/ |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=slideplayer.com}}</ref>

In 2013, [[Thatta]] district bifurcated into two separate districts Thatta and [[Sujawal District|Sujawal district]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mansoor |first=Hasan |date=2013-10-13 |title=Thatta split to make Sujawal 28th district of Sindh |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1049252 |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sindh government notifies 'Sujawal' as district |url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/89779-sindh-government-notifies-sujawal-as-district |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=www.geo.tv |language=en}}</ref>

==Local government==
The district is now administratively subdivided into 4 [[Tehsils]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lgdsindh.com.pk/thatta.htm |title=District Government Thatta| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071229080350/http://www.lgdsindh.com.pk/thatta.htm |archive-date=2007-12-29|website=Local Government Department, Government of Sindh website|url-status=dead|access-date=14 March 2023}}</ref>


* [[Thatta]]<ref name=PBS/>
* [[Mirpur Sakro]]<ref name=PBS/>
* [[Keti Bander]]
* [[Ghorabari]]<ref name=PBS/>

The 2015/ 2016 local bodies election was decisively won by the liberal Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Ghulam Qadir Palijo was elected as the Chairman of the district. Palijo was earlier an elected Member of the Sindh Assembly (MPA) from Mirpur Sakro, Thatta.

==Education==
*[https://usindh.edu.pk/page/49 University of Sindh Thatta Campus]<ref>{{Cite web |title=University of Sindh |url=https://usindh.edu.pk/page/49 |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=usindh.edu.pk}}</ref>
*[https://ghr.szabist.edu.pk/ Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology Gharo Campus]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gharo – Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology, Gharo |url=https://ghr.szabist.edu.pk/ |access-date=2023-08-13 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Khwaja |first=Iqbal |date=2012-10-06 |title=Grabbing of SZABIST land under probe |url=https://www.dawn.com/2012/10/06/grabbing-of-szabist-land-under-probe/ |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref>
*Liaquat University of Medical Health Science International Campus<ref>{{Cite web |title=IBA Thatta Campus handed over to Sukkur IBA University |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/915328-iba-thatta-campus-handed-over-to-sukkur-iba-university |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=www.thenews.com.pk |language=en}}</ref>
*Allama Iqbal Open University Makli Campus
*Government Technical College Thatta
*Government Institute Of Business & Commercial Education, Gharo
*Government (Boys) Degree College Thatta
*Government (Girls) Degree College Thatta
*Government Degree College Gharo
*Government Degree College Ghorabari
*Government Elementary College Thatta
*Government Intermediate College Dhabeji
*Government Intermediate College Keti Bandar (Purposed)

==Demography==
At the time of the 2017 census, Thatta district had a population of 982,138, of which 510,143 were males and 471,958 females. The rural population was 805,662 (82.03%) and urban 176,476 (17.97%). The literacy rate is 27.88%: 35.46% for males and 19.63% for females.

===Religion===
{{bar box
|title=Religions in Thatta district (2017)
|titlebar=#FCD116
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=left
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Muslims]]|green|96.75}}
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism in Sindh Province|Hindus]]|darkorange|3.04}}
{{bar percent|Other or not stated|black|0.21}}
}}
The majority religion is Islam, with 96.75% of the population. Hinduism (including those from Scheduled Castes) is practiced by 3.04% of the population.

===Language===

{{Pie chart
|caption = Languages of Thatta district (2017)
|label1 = [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]] |value1 = 92.92 |color1 = gold
|label2 = [[Urdu]] |value2 = 1.40 |color2 = crimson
|label3 = [[Pashto]] |value3 = 1.33 |color3 = royalblue
|label4 = [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] |value4 = 1.10 |color4 = saddlebrown
|label5 = [[Balochi language|Balochi]] |value5 = 1.05 |color5 = darkblue
|label6 = Others |value6 = 2.20 |color6 = grey
}}
{{Historical populations
|align=right
|percentages=pagr
|1972 |319,698
|1981 |399,240
|1998 |599,492
|2017 |982,138
|footnote= Sources:<ref name=population>{{cite web |title=Pakistan: Provinces and Districts |url=http://www.citypopulation.de/en/pakistan/admin/ |department=Thatta District population per 2017 census |website=Citypopulation.de website|language=en|access-date=14 March 2023}}</ref>}}
At the time of the 2017 census, 92.92% of the population spoke [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]], 1.40% [[Urdu]], 1.33% [[Pashto]], 1.10% [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] and 1.05% [[Balochi language|Balochi]] as their first language.

==List of Dehs (towns, villages)==
The following is a list of Thatta District's dehs:<ref name="Sindh Zameen">{{cite web |title=List of Dehs in Sindh |url=https://sindhzameen.gos.pk/pdf/listofdeh.pdf |website=Sindh Zameen.gos.pk website |access-date=14 March 2023}}</ref>

** [[Jungshahi]]
** [[Makli]]
** [[Sheikhani]]
** [[Thatta]]
** [[Miyani]]
** [[Gharo]]
** Gono
** [[Karampur]]
** [[Mirpur Sakro]]
** [[Kohistan 7/1,7/2,7/3,7/4 ]] Half

== See also==
* [[Marho Kotri Wildlife Sanctuary]]
* [[Haleji Lake]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===
*{{Cite book| title = 1998 District census report of Thatta| location = Islamabad| publisher = Population Census Organization, Statistics Division, Government of Pakistan| series = Census publication | volume = 54| date = 1999| ref = {{harvid|PCO|1999}} }}

{{Coord|24|30|N|67|50|E|region:PK_type:adm3rd_source:GNS-enwiki|display=title}}
{{Districts of Sindh}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Thatta District| ]]
[[Category:Districts of Sindh]]

Thatta District - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article