Matiari District (, ) is a district of central Sindh locally called the Vichol Region of Sindh province of Pakistan. Located on the left bank of the Indus River, Matiari became an independent district on 30 May 2004 during the military regime of Pervez Musharraf, when Hyderabad was divided into four districts — Tando Allahyar, Matiari, Tando Mohammad Khan and Hyderabad.

Etymology

The word Matiari is derived from two Sindhi words Mat and yari, which means friendship with earthen water pots.

According to culture, the Main Bus Stop at Matiari Main Road was where a lady sat in a hut a long time ago. It is where she kept an earthen pot of water. People of Matiari would tell the bus conductor to stop at "Mat Wari Maai" (old woman's hut where she keeps earthen pot of water). This is apparently why it the district is called Matiari.

History and administration Matiari district was carved out of Hyderabad district along with Tando Allahyar and Tando Muhammad Khan districts in 2005. Matiari district is part of the Hyderabad division. The district is administratively subdivided into three talukas:

Hala Taluka Matiari Taluka Saeedabad Taluka

There are 30 union councils in the district as tabulated below: +UC No.NameUC No.NameUC No. NameUC NoNameUC No.NameUC NO.Name1Matiari6Bau Khan Pathan11Oderolal Village16Bhanoth21Makhdooman Jon

Landhiyoon26Bhaledino Kaka2Jiandal Kot7Palijani12Nobat Marri17Khandu22Karam Khan Nizamani27Sikenderabad3Shah Alam Ji Wasi8Oderolal Station13Sher Muhammad Thorra/Kheber18Fateh Muhammad

Shah Ajnani23Shahmir Rahu28Zair Peer4Shahpur/ Arif Khatian9Bau Dero14Faqir Nooh Hothiani19Ajan Shah24Faqirabad29Abdul Wahid Borero5Tajpur10Sekhat15Muhammad Hussain Hingoro20Bhit Shah25Saeedabad Old30Muhammad Ramzan Unar

Demography

As of the 2023 census, Matiari district has 158,463 households and a population of 849,383. The district has a sex ratio of 102.58 males to 100 females and a literacy rate of 45.88%: 56.34% for males and 35.12% for females. 266,740 (31.41% of the surveyed population) are under 10 years of age. 202,673 (23.86%) live in urban areas.

+Religion in contemporary Matiari DistrictReligiousgroup194120172023Islam 91,74478.67%641,29783.28%693,62581.67%Hinduism 24,34320.87%128,26716.66%153,17018.03%Others 5280.46%4760.06%2,5560.30% Total Population 116,615 100% 770,040 100% 849,351 100%

The majority religion is Islam, with 81.67% of the population. Hinduism (including those from Scheduled Castes) is 18.03% of the population. Members of other religions are largely Christians.

At the time of the 2023 census, 92.95% of the population spoke Sindhi, 2.66% Urdu and 4.42% spoke other various languages as their first language.

Notable places

The shrines of Pir Rukun-Din-Shah, Makhdoom Sarwar Nooh, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, Sakhi Hashim Shah pir Haider shah, Muhammad Faquir Khatian and others are located in Matiari district. Miani forest and the battleground of Sir Charles Napier and Talpur rulers of Sindh and Miani jo Maidan are also situated in Matiari district.

Syed Rukun-Din-Shah also fought a battle with the Arguns dynasty with seven bilalis of sindh.

At Khuda aabad, one can find the graves and the tombs of Mughal Empires era. There is a Masjid (Praying Place) and a well of water.

The Indus River is also there.

Agriculture

Matiari district is one of the most fertile districts of Sindh. The main crops cultivated are cotton, banana, mango, wheat, onions and sugarcane.

Politics

The elected representatives from Matiari district are MNA Makhdoom Jameel-uz-Zaman (PPPP) NA 223 MPA Makhdoom Mehboob Zaman (PPPP) PS 58 MPA Makhdoom Rafique Zaman (PPPP) PS 59

List of union councils The following is a list of Matiari District's union councils, organised by Tehsils:

Hala Tehsil (35 Dehs) Bhanbhri Bhanoth Bhit Shah Bundh Bunglow Bureri Char Dhabri Gahoth Gaib peer Ghoghat Ghotana Hala Hala old Jamlabad Jhirki Kalri Katcho Khanoth Keeriya Khandu Khanoth Kutkai Lakhisar Narli Nizamani Nooralabad Noorketi Pir Bilawal Rechal Rojhani Salaro Sandhan Shaikhani Tarah Verato Matiari Tehsil (49 Dehs) Abrejani Arain Barechani Baudero Bhanoki Bhorko Buhryoon Chharao Dhando Ganag Rayati Gang Jagir Hakra Jaheki Kaindal Kot Jakhri Jagir Jakhri Joya Jakhri Rayati Ketti Khorkhani Khudi Khyberani Koheki Lutryoon Mari Matiari Mubarak Wah Nindero Oderolal Palijani Panhwarki Pano Porath Reechal Sadri Saeedpur Sahib Saman Sattar Sekhat Shahpur Sipki Jagir Sipki Rayati Sohiki Soomra Sultanpur Tajpur Thano Thorha Vesro Wassan Saeedabad Tehsil (28 Dehs) Ahano Amin Lakho Bawri Chhachhri Chhapar Kahan Chitori Dalo Keti Dethki Fatehpur Gadali Giss Jamali Kaka Khatoori Khuteero Koonar Larh Manahi Odiyanoo Panjmoro Peengharo Jagir Peengharo Raieti Rahoo Rahooki Ranoo Saeedabad Suhrabpur Zairpir

Notes

References

Bibliography

External links