Umerkot District (Dhatki: عمرکوٹ / عمرڪوٽ, Sindhi: عمرڪوٽ ضلعو, Urdu: ضلع عمرکوٹ), also known as Amarkot District, is a district in the southeastern part of Sindh province of Pakistan. The city of Umerkot is the capital of the district. Sindhi is the native language of approximately 95.1% of the residents according to the 2023 Pakistani census. According to latest census estimate, the population of district is 1,158,284 (1.15 million). Umerkot is the only non-Muslim majority district in Pakistan, with adherents of Hinduism representing 54.7% of the total population as per 2023 Pakistani census.
The region was first ruled by the Sodhas of Amarkot from 1226. Following the military defeat from Sher Shah Suri, Mughal ruler Humayun was given protection by the Amarkot Sodha Rajput King Rana Prasad. His son Akbar was born here in 1542. The region was later ruled by Kalhora dynasty (1657-1783) and then the Talpurs dynasty (1783-1843). During the British conquest of Sindh in 1843, British commander Charles Napier defeated the Talpurs. He became the governor of Sindh. Following the creation of Pakistan, the region was under the Mirpurkhas district. In 1993, it was made a district. However, in 2000, the district was abolished and merged to Mirpurkhas. In 2004, the district was reestablished.
The Umerkot district was initially created in 1993 comprising four talukas (Umerkot, Samaro, Kunri and Pithoro), but later on, due to some political reasons, it was abolished and merged with Mirpur Khas district in December 2000. However, after four years, it was restored.
Administration
Map of Umerkot District's tehsils
District Coordination Officer is co-ordinating head of District administration and he is required to ensure that business of various group of offices is carried out in accordance with the laws, and to act as Principal Accounting Officer. Presently Ghulam Akbar Laghari is the District Coordination Officer of District Umerkot.
Executive District Officer is executive head of his respective group of offices.
Musalihat Anjuman are also constituted in each union council consisting of panel of three Musaleheen where the matters are referred even by any competent court having jurisdiction for amicable settlement.
The district is administratively subdivided into the following Tehsils:
Geographically district Umerkot is located in the south-east corner of Sindh.
It is surrounded by Sanghar district in the north, Mirpur Khas district in the west and Tharparkar in the south-east.
Demographics
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±% p.a.
1998
664,797
—
2017
1,073,469
+2.55%
2023
1,159,831
+1.30%
Sources:
As of the 2023 census, Umerkot district has 222,562 households and a population of 1,159,831. The district has a sex ratio of 109.73 males to 100 females and a literacy rate of 38.69%: 51.17% for males and 25.11% for females. 406,585 (35.1% of the surveyed population) are under 10 years of age. 258,859 (22.32%) live in urban areas.
At the time of the 2023 census, 95.13% of the population spoke Sindhi, 1.8% Punjabi and 1.4% Urdu as their first language. Dhatki dialect of Sindhi is spoken in the district.
Umerkot is the only Hindu majority district in Pakistan. Hindus form around 55% and Muslims form around 45% of Umerkot's population.
The Umarkot Shiv Mandir in Umerkot is one of the oldest and most sacred Hindu temples in the Sindh. The annual Maha Shivratri celebration of the temple is one of the biggest religious festivals in Pakistan and is attended by around 250,000 people.
Pakistan
Sindh
