Larkana

Larkana لاڙڪاڻو
—  City District  —
Coordinates: 27°33′36″N 68°13′35″E / 27.56°N 68.22639°E / 27.56; 68.22639
Country	Pakistan
Province	Sindh
Division	Larkana
District created	1901
Taluks	04
Government
- Type	City District
- Nazim	Muhammad Bux Arijo (PML-Q)
- Naib Nazim
- District Coordination Officer
Area
- Total	30 km2 (11.6 sq mi)
Elevation from mean sea leavel	147 m (482 ft)
Population (1998[1])
- Total	270,283
- Density	9,009.4/km2 (23,300.3/sq mi)
Time zone	+5 (UTC)
Area code(s)	074

Coordinates: 27°33′36″N 68°13′35″E / 27.56°N 68.22639°E / 27.56; 68.22639

Larkana or Larkano (Urdu:لاڑکانہ, Sindhi: لاڙڪاڻو) is the fourth largest city located in the Northwest of Sindh Province, Pakistan, located in Larkana District. In August 2000 Larkana celebrated its hundred years of existence. It is located on the south bank of the Ghar canal, 40 miles south of Shikarpur town, and 36 north-east of Mehar.^[2]

History

During British rule Larkana became headquarters of Larkana District and Larkana Taluka - and for a time was part of the Bombay Presidency of British India, it was on the route of the North-Western Railway. The population according to the 1901 census of India was 14,543.

The Imperial Gazetteer of India describes the town as follows:

"The country surrounding Lārkāna is fertile and populous, and perhaps the finest tract in the whole of the province: The spacious walks, well laid-out gardens, and luxuriant foliage, have gained for Lārkāna the title of the 'Eden of Sind.' It is one of the most important grain marts of Sind, and is famous for a variety of rice called sugdāsi. There is a large local traffic in metals, cloth, and leather. The principal manufactures are cloth of mixed silk and cotton, coarse cotton cloth, metal vessels, and leathern goods. The town contains a dispensary, an Anglo-vernacular school attended by 80 pupils, and a vernacular school with three branches, attended altogether by 379 pupils. The chief local object of interest is the tomb of Shāh Bahārah, who was a military officer of Nūr Muhammad Kalhora, and died in 1735. Of modern buildings the most noteworthy are the Collector's office, a fine domed building with an ornamental Darbār hall; erected in 1902 ; and a neatly-built school and boarding- house for the, sons of zamīndārs, erected by public subscription in the same year. This school has 60 inmates and teaches English and Sindī. The municipality, established in 1855, had an average income of Rs. 46,000 during the decade ending 1901. In 1903-4 the income was Rs. 54,000." ^[2]

Land and region

Larkana has a fertile land that cultivates all kind of fruits and vegetables, including potatoes, melons, olives, oranges, peas, carrots, cucumber, mangoes and guava. Some 10 km far away from the city, sugarcane is cultivated and processed at the Sugar Mill established in 1990 in Nau Dero Village, which is the birth place of former Prime Ministers of Pakistan Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and ShaheedBenazir Bhutto.

Animals and birds

Various kinds of birds roam in the city, including migratory birds coming to this region during winter, from Russia and Siberia. They live on wetlands on the right bank of Indus River near Mohenjo-daro.

Famous personalities from Larkana

There are many famous personalities who belong to Larkana city and district. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto former Prime Minister and President of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Barristor Muhammad Junejo, Mumtaz Bhutto former Chief Minister of Sindh, Murtaza Bhutto, a politician and also son of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and brother of Benazir Bhutto, Chakar Ali Khan Junejo,Safdar Abbasi, a Senator, Begum Abida Parveen, a famous Pakistani Sufi singer.Dr Abdul Nabi Khokhar Ortho and Trauma Surgeon, Muhammad Ayoub khuhro former Chief Minister Sindh,Khursheed Ahmed Junejo First District Nazim for Larkana and Ambasder to U.A.E present. Qazi Fazlullah Ubaidullah former Chief Minister of Sindh, Akhtar Ali G Qazi former Chief Minister of Sindh, Moulana Jan Mohammad Abbasi Naib Ameer (Vice President) of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan. .

Transport

Railway

Larkana Railway Station is located in the center of Larkana City.

Bus

The Blue lines is the main coach service from larkana to Hyderabad and Karachi.The Al-Madina, Hashmi and Geo Larkana coaches are famous for the cities of Sindh like Karachi, Hyderabad, Dadu, Jamshoro, Sehwan and many other cities of larkana. The office of Blue lines is located on the back of Jinnah Bagh/Tajar Bagh, Al-madina coaches have their office at the back of hotel Mehran on station road.

AIRPORT

Mohenjo-daro Airport is located near Mohenjo-daro 28 kilometres away in the south of Larkana city. Only fokker airplanes of PIA land on this airport.

Language

Sindhi is the main language but Siraiki, a dialect of Sindhi is also spoken, which is similar to the Sindhi language. Sindhi and English are the official languages. Simultaneously, Brahvi is also spoken widely in Larkana District.

Education

Some of the major educational institutions in Larkana include:

• Chandka Medical College

Location:27°33′11.23″N 68°11′56.81″E / 27.5531194°N 68.1991139°E / 27.5531194; 68.1991139

• ZA Bhutto Agricultural College

Location:27°25′57.96″N 68°7′12.84″E / 27.4327667°N 68.1202333°E / 27.4327667; 68.1202333

• Government Commerce College.
• Government Degree(Boys)College
• Government Degree(Gilrs)College

Location:27°34′56.58″N 68°13′15.20″E / 27.5823833°N 68.2208889°E / 27.5823833; 68.2208889

• Cadet College Larkana

Location:27°21′33.56″N 68°07′18.82″E / 27.3593222°N 68.1218944°E / 27.3593222; 68.1218944

• Government Pilot Higher Secondary School
• Larkana Public School
• Municipal Govt. School Larkano
• Government: Saint Joseph high school Larkana
• SZABIST
• The Educators
• Zubida Fazal Decent High School
• The City School
• Strathmore School System Larkana
• Elite English School
• Sindh Science College
• Shams English School

Radio and Television Stations

Larkana City has currently two radio stations. Radio Pakistan and Sachal FM 105 Larkana. The most popular Station of the region is Sachal FM 105 Larkana. People of Larkana enjoy its programs round the clock. Larkana has also ATV Rebroadcasting station.

Archaeological site

One of the world's oldest archaeological sites, Mohenjo-daro lies 28 km away from the Larkana City. As it is a major archaeological site, it has its own airport, which is shared by Larkana.

In Larkana District there are many Archaelological Sites such as, Jhoker Jo Daro.

See also

• Larkana District
• History of Larkana
• Mohenjo-daro
• Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
• Benazir Bhutto
• Abida Parveen

References

External links

• Commercial and Official Website
• Larkano
• Larkana City and District