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Larkana لاڙڪاڻو 1901
—  City  —
Larkana
Coordinates: 27°33′36″N 68°13′35″E / 27.56000°N 68.22639°E / 27.56000; 68.22639
Country	Pakistan
Province	Sindh
Taluka	Larkana Taluka
District created	1901
Taluks	04
Government
• Type	Commissioner system
• Commissioner
• Deputy Commissioner/District Megistrate
Area
• Total	17 km2 (7 sq mi)
Elevationfrom mean sea level	147 m (482 ft)
Population (1998[1])
• Total	270,283
Time zone	+5
Area code(s)	074

Coordinates: 27°33′36″N 68°13′35″E / 27.56000°N 68.22639°E / 27.56000; 68.22639

Larkana or Larkano (Sindhi: لاڙڪاڻو [laːɽkaːnoː]) is the fourth largest city in the north-western part of Sindh Province, Pakistan, and is located within Larkana District. The historical name of Larkano, until the year 1901, was Chandka. In August 2000, Larkano celebrated the hundredth anniversary of its founding. It is located on the south bank of the Ghar canal, 40 miles south of Shikarpur town, and 36 miles north-east of Mehar.^[2]

History [edit]

During British rule over Sindh, Larkano became the headquarters of Larkana District and Larkana Taluka, and was, for a time, part of the Bombay Presidency of British India. The city lay on the route of the North-Western Railway. The population of Larkano, according to the 1901 Census of India, was 14,543. It's name was derived from 'Larik', a Sindhi tribe found in the area.

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 Mir Shahzaib Khan Jalbani, according to Nadeem wagan's article who was a military officer of [Mir Danish Nawaz Khan Jalbani], 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]

Medical education [edit]

Chandka Medical College (CMC) [edit]

Chandka Medical College (CMC), established by the former Prime Minister of Pakistan Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, was inaugurated on 20 April 1973.

It was the fourth public Medical School to be established in Sindh Province.^[3]

Chandka Medical College, is recognized by Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC). The College of Physicians & Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) has also established its regional center at CMC Larkana. The CPSP also conducts, since 1999, FCPS-I, FCPS-II and MCPS Examinations at the CMC Larkana center. The exam results of local candidates are comparable with other renowned centers of education in the country.^[3]

Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University [edit]

Chandka Medical College was upgraded to a medical university, Shaheed Mohtrama Benazir Bhutto Medical University (SMBBMU), on 12 April 2008. The renaming effort was headed by Professor Surgeon Sikandar Ali Shaikh, who was principal of CMC at that time and later became the first Vice Chancellor of the SMBBMU. Dr. Sikandar Ali Shaikh retired in 2011. As of Oct 2012, Dr Akbar Hyder Soomro is the VC of SMBBMU and Dr Asadullah Mahar is the principal of the Medical College.^[4]

Quaid-e-Awam University, College of Engineering Science and Technology, Larkana [edit]

In order to provide Engineering and Technological Education facilities to the citizens of Larkana, a scheme entitled Establishment of Engineering College, Larkana was approved during the PDWP meeting of Government of Sindh in May 2009 to cater the needs of the upper region of Sindh. Accordingly, a constituent college of Quaid-e-Awam University of Engineering, Science & Technology was established named Engineering College Larkana in the year 2009. The college began its admissions process in January 2010.

Initially, the Engineering College was established in the buildings of the Government Home Economics College, Larkana. The buildings were acquired from the Government of Sindh's Education and Literacy Department.

These buildings provide adequate space to establish Administrative infrastructure, classrooms and the laboratories required for the conducting of classes. About 250 acres of land have been acquired to establish permanent infrastructure of the college as soon as all required resources are made available.

Electronics Engineering Department Mechanical Engineering Department Electrical Engineering Department Civil Engineering Department B.S.R.S Department

Famous schools [edit]

• IIUI Schools Larkana Campus
• Zubaida Fazal Decent College, Larkana
• Government Pilot Higher Secondary School (1st school of the city, estab. 1926)
• Government Deeni Madarsah Primary and Higher Secondary School
• The City School (Pakistan)
• Govt. Degree College
• SZABIST Intermediate College, Larkana
• SZABIST Institution of Science and Technology
• P.V School
• P.C School
• Strathmore School System
• Shams High School
• Fauji Foundation School
• Public School larkana
• Saint Joseph High School
• Little Folks Middle School
• Saint Rose Mary English High School
• ZA Bhutto Agricultural College
• Cadet College Larkana
• College for Superior Services (CSS), Lahori Mohalla Larkana
• Indus School Larkano
• Knowledge Centre Larkano
• Ideal Public School, Gajanpur, Larkana

Agriculture [edit]

Larkana is surrounded by fertile land in which many varieties of fruits and vegetables are cultivated. These include potatoes, melons, olives, oranges, peas, carrots, cucumber, mangoes and guava. Some 10 km from the city, sugarcane is cultivated and processed, since 1990, at a Sugar Mill in Nau Dero village.

Birdlife [edit]

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

Bhutto family [edit]

The area is largely known throughout Pakistan for its association with the Bhutto family and the former Prime Minister of Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The Bhuttos of Larkano are typically identified with the Pakistan People's Party and is largely viewed as the party's base of operations.

Notable people [edit]

• Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto - Prominent landowner, father of Z. A Bhutto
• Zulfikar Ali Bhutto – former Prime Minister of Pakistan
• Benazir Bhutto – former Prime Minister of Pakistan
• Muhammad Ayub Khuhro – former Chief Minister of Sindh
• Murtaza Bhutto - founder of the PPP Shaheed Bhutto, son of Z. A Bhutto
• Bashir Ahmed Qureshi- Chairman of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM)
• Fatima Bhutto - novelist, journalist
• Ehsan Sehgal- poet, writer, journalist.
• Nawab Shah Mouhmed Lahori – Founder and first Chairman of Larkana District Corporation
• Abida Parveen – Sufi singer
• Sobho Gianchandani - Eminent lawyer and scholor
• Mumtaz Ali Bhutto - former Chief Minister of Sindh
• Qazi Fazlullah Ubaidullah - former Chief Minister (Sindh)
• Justice Rana Bhagwan Das - Ex-Chief Justice of Supreme Court and Chairman of FPS
• Abdul-Majid Bhurgri - developed computing applications in the Sindhi language
• Kazi Abdul Mannan- Minister for Public Works 1953-1955
• Yasir Hussain Abbasi

Transport [edit]

Rail [edit]

Larkana Railway Station is located in the center of Larkana City. It connects the city of Larkano to the rest of Sindh and Pakistan via rail, & assists in the transport of agricultural produce to the larger cities such as Karachi.

Air [edit]

Mohen-jo-daro Airport is located near Mohen-jo-daro, 28 kilometres away to the south of the city of Larkano, 5 kilometers away from Dokri. The main users of the airport are Pakistan International Airlines, the country's national flag carrier. The outdated infrastructure of the airport prevents the use of large, advanced aircraft, with the PIA largely using Fokker airplanes for flights.

Bus [edit]

Larkano is connected via bus to most major Pakistani cities such as Karachi, Islamabad, and Quetta.

Language [edit]

The majority of the population of both the city & the district of Larkano speak the native Sindhi language. English and Urdu are also widely understood. Saraiki, Balochi, Punjabi and Brahvi are also spoken in various pockets of the city.

Archaeology [edit]

One of the world's oldest archaeological sites, Mohen-jo-daro, lies 28 km away from the city. As a major archaeological site, it has its own airport, which is shared by Larkano. In Larkana District there are several other archaeological sites, such as Jhoker Jo Daro.

See also [edit]

• Larkana District
• History of Larkana
• Mohen-jo-daro

References [edit]

External links [edit]

• Larkana
• Larkano
• Larkana
• [1]