Matiari District

 

BRIEF HISTORY OF DISTRICT MATIARI

 

Sindh is the Valley of Saints. Ancient Sindh was spread up to Multan (Now in Punjab Province). Islam was first spread through the preachers (Sahabas and Saints) who educated the people of this valley through their teachings. For the last several hundred years, the region of Sindh from Nawabshah to Thatta is known as the Area of SAHTEYA (Literature & Education) and Matiari is the center of this region.

Matiari is one of the oldest territories of Sindh. Its civilization is near about five thousand years old. It has a very bright past from an educational point of view. This region produced several religious scholars, Educators, Intellectuals, and Poets who spread the essence of their knowledge all over the subcontinent.

Matiari is the land of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, the great saint, soofi Poet, and lover of Sindh and the world as well.

In the old days, the British Government always acquired (FATWA) from Scholars (Ulama`s) MATIARI according to Muslim Law to decide Muslim disputes in a court of law. Akhund Azizullah, the first translator of the Holy Quran in the Sindhi language, was also a native of Matiari.

 The First “SHAHEED” of the “Khilafat movement” Muhammad Raheem Qazi was a citizen of Matiari Town.

Matiari Town was established by “Sayeds”, whose forefathers had come from “HIRAT”, before them there was a small village of the tribe “CHANG” at this place.

GEOGRAPHICAL LIMITS

The north borders of District Matiari meet with the District “Nawabshah”, in the East, they touch District “Sanghhar”, in the south of Matiari there is Hyderabad District and in the west River, Indus touches the borders of Matiari, which plays the basic role in the agricultural growth of this area.

CULTURE

The culture of Matiari is mixed; some customs are taken from Hindu culture, but as here about 95% of people are Muslims, so Islamic traditions are dominated. There are lots of racial groups do live in Matiari, some considerable of them are, “SAYED”,” KHASAKELY”, “MEMON”,” MALLAH”, “BHATTI”, BALOCH”, “KHOSA”, “BAGRI” and “KOLHI”.

POVERTY RATE

The poverty rate is nearly the same as that of other districts of rural Sindh.

LITERACY RATE

The rate of literacy is considerably high, especially in Taluka Headquarters as compared to the literacy rate of the whole country.

CROPS

The main crops of this district are Cotton, Wheat, and Sugarcane, but besides these, a lot of other crops are cultivated. The fruits and vegetables of this region are also considerable. “Nasarpur” is the biggest market for “Onion” in Asia.

INDUSTRY

As Matiari is very near to Hyderabad, so the people of Matiari accomplish their industrial needs from there, but the old industrial products of Matiari are very much popular all over Pakistan and abroad.

These industrial products are “KHADEE”, “KASHEE” and “JUNDI” of Hala, “LOONGEE” & “KHES” of Nasarpur, and “AJRAK” of “MATIARI” City. A sugar mill named “MATIARI SUGAR MILL” is situated in the vicinity of Matiari.

After the creation of this District, its population stands at 515,331 and it contains three Talukas Matiari, Hala, and Saeedabad.

Now a day District Matiari is contained on 19 union councils.

1) TALUKA MATIARI              (Union Councils 08)     (Population   239,153)

  1. Matiari
  2. Shah Alam Shah ji Wasi
  3. Tajpur
  4. Sekhat
  5. Bau Khan Pathan
  6. Oderolal Station
  7. Oderolal Village
  8. FaqeerNoohthiani

  2)  TALUKA HALA                   (Union Councils 06)       (Population   161,980)

  1. 1. Hala I
  2. Hala II
  3. Bhanoth
  4. Karam Khan Nizamani
  5. Bhit Shah
  6. Old Hala

3)  TALUKA SAEED ABAD      (Union Councils 04)           (Population 114,198)

  1. Saeedabad
  2. Shahmir Rahoo
  3. Bhaledinoo Kaka
  4.  Zair Pir

Total Number of Union Councils          (18)        (Total Population 515,331)*Source: Census 1998.