Total population
1,386,330 2023 Census
Shikarpur District
Shikarpur is a 2,512 km² agricultural district with 1.3 million residents. Famously dubbed the “Paris of Sindh,” it was a historic caravan trading hub. Its four talukas preserve ancient architectural heritage under the Cultural Protection Act. The region is celebrated for its unique covered bazaars and iconic Shikarpuri pickles. Its economy depends entirely on livestock and seasonal rice, wheat, and cotton crops.
Basic information
Total area
2,512 km²
Administrative units
4 tehsils · 55 union councils
Administrative scale
Indicators
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Total population (2023 Census) | 1,386,330 |
| Total area | 2,512 km² |
| Tehsils / Sub-Divisions | 4 |
| Union councils | 55 |
Educational institutions
| Type | Count |
|---|---|
| Schools (government total) | 1380 |
| Colleges | 15 |
Hospitals & health facilities
| Facility type | Count |
|---|---|
| DHQ | 1 |
| Type-D hospitals | 4 |
| RHC | 7 |
| BHU | 33 |
| Civil Dispensaries | 4 |
Police
37 police stations (district total).
Courts by tehsil
| Tehsil | Courts |
|---|---|
| Shikarpur Taluka | 9 |
| Khanpur | 2 |
| Lakhi Ghulam Shah | 2 |
| Garhi Yaseen | 2 |
Total: 15 civil courts.
Elected representation (Provincial Assembly, party mix)
National Assembly constituencies
| Constituency | Name (Party) |
|---|---|
| NA-192 Kashmore-cum-Shikarpur | Mir Shabbir Ali Bijarani (PPPP) |
| NA-193 Shikarpur | Muhammad Shaharyar Khan Mahar (PPPP) |
Provincial Assembly constituencies
| Constituency | Name (Party) |
|---|---|
| PS-7 Shikarpur-I | Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh (PPPP) |
| PS-8 Shikarpur-II | Muhammad Arif Khan Mahar (PPPP) |
| PS-9 Shikarpur-III | Agha Shahbaz Ali Durrani (PPPP) |
Priority issues & challenges
1. Road infrastructure
Road infrastructure in Shikarpur is in a dilapidated condition, causing severe transport delays and heavy losses for nearly 35% of agricultural commodity transit.
2. Water crisis
Shikarpur is facing a severe water crisis, with 67% of rural households forced to rely on highly contaminated, shallow groundwater pumps.
3. Health
Healthcare facilities in Shikarpur are under severe strain, as the 250-bed DHQ and other facilities are serving an overburdened population of about 1.39 million.
4. Unemployment
Shikarpur has a high rural unemployment rate driven by seasonal agricultural dependencies and an underutilized small industrial estate.
5. Environmental challenges
The local canal network is heavily polluted, with a massive volume of untreated municipal sewage routinely discharged directly into major water channels.