Matiari District

Matiari District (Sindhi: ضلعو مٽیاري, Urdu: ضلع مٹیاری) is a district in the Pakistani province of Sindh. 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.^[3]

Matiari District ضلعو مٽیاري ضلع مٹیاری
District of Sindh
Shrine of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai
Map of Sindh with Matiari District highlighted
Country	Pakistan
Province	Sindh
Division	Hyderabad
Established	30 May 2004
Headquarters	Matiari
Government
• Type	District Administration
• Deputy Commissioner	N/A
• District Police Officer	N/A
• District Health Officer	N/A
Area
• District of Sindh	1,417 km2 (547 sq mi)
Population  (2023)[1]
• District of Sindh	849,383
• Density	600/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
• Urban	202,673
• Rural	646,710
Literacy [2]
• Literacy rate	Total: 45.88% Male: 56.34% Female: 35.12%
Time zone	UTC+5 (PKT)
Number of Tehsils	3
Website	http://www.matiari.net/

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.^[4] Matiari district is part of the Hyderabad division. The district is administratively subdivided into three talukas:^[5]

• Hala Taluka
• Matiari Taluka
• Saeedabad Taluka

There are 30 union councils in the district as tabulated below:^[6]

UC No.	Name	UC No.	Name	UC No.	Name	UC No	Name	UC No.	Name	UC NO.	Name
1	Matiari	6	Bau Khan Pathan	11	Oderolal Village	16	Bhanoth	21	Makhdooman Jon Landhiyoon	26	Bhaledino Kaka
2	Jiandal Kot	7	Palijani	12	Nobat Marri	17	Khandu	22	Karam Khan Nizamani	27	Sikenderabad
3	Shah Alam Ji Wasi	8	Oderolal Station	13	Sher Muhammad Thorra/Kheber	18	Fateh Muhammad Shah Ajnani	23	Shahmir Rahu	28	Zair Peer
4	Shahpur/ Arif Khatian	9	Bau Dero	14	Faqir Nooh Hothiani	19	Ajan Shah	24	Faqirabad	29	Abdul Wahid Borero
5	Tajpur	10	Sekhat	15	Muhammad Hussain Hingoro	20	Bhit Shah	25	Saeedabad Old	30	Muhammad Ramzan Unar

Demography

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1951	124,948	—
1961	148,995	+1.78%
1972	336,367	+7.68%
1981	438,319	+2.99%
1998	494,244	+0.71%
2017	770,040	+2.36%
2023	849,383	+1.65%
Sources:[7]

As of the 2023 census, Matiari district has 158,463 households and a population of 849,383.^[8] 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.^[1][9] 266,740 (31.41% of the surveyed population) are under 10 years of age.^[10] 202,673 (23.86%) live in urban areas.^[1]

Religions in Matiari district (2023) [11]
Religion			Percent
Islam			81.67%
Hinduism			18.03%
Other			0.3%

Religion in contemporary Matiari District

Religious group	1941[12]: 54–57 [a]		2017[13]		2023[11]
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
Islam	91,744	78.67%	641,297	83.28%	693,625	81.67%
Hinduism	24,343	20.87%	128,267	16.66%	153,170	18.03%
Others [b]	528	0.46%	476	0.06%	2,556	0.30%
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.^[11]

Languages of Matiari district (2023)^[14]

1. Sindhi (93.0%)
2. Urdu (2.66%)
3. Balochi (1.33%)
4. Hindko (1.31%)
5. Others (1.75%)

At the time of the 2023 census, 92.95% of the population spoke Sindhi, 2.66% Urdu, 1.33% Balochi and 1.31% Hindko as their first language.^[14]

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:^[15]

• 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

1. 1941 census data is for Hala taluka of erstwhile Hyderabad district, which roughly corresponds to the present district. District and taluk borders have changed since then.
2. Including Jainism, Christianity, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Ad-Dharmis, or not stated