Introduction
Matiari is one of the 30 districts of Sindh Province with total count of 849,383 as per Census-2023. This district is bounded on the North by Shaheed Benazirabad District (formerly Nawabshah), in the South Hyderabad, in the East Sanghar and Tando Allahyar and in the West Jamshoro District.
Matiari District is part of Hyderabad Division whereas the other eight districts in this Division are Badin, Dadu, Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Tando Allahyar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Thatta and Sujawal. The district lies in 68° 21′ 8” to 69° 19′ 56” East longitudes to 25° 26′ 10” to 26° 5′ 52” North latitudes. It covers an area of 1,417 Sq. Kilometers.
Matiari District was previously a taluka of Hyderabad District. On 4th of April 2005, this taluka was separated from Hyderabad and was awarded the status of a district.
As shown in the Table 1.1, population of Matiari District is 849,383. The population of Matiari recorded an average annual growth of 1.65% during the intercensal period of 2017 to 2023.
Matiari District ranks 28th in terms of population out of all the 30 districts of Sindh Province.
In terms of average annual growth rate, Matiari ranks 18th in Sindh Province.
Matiari is one of the oldest territory of Sindh. It has its own cultural values. Before coming of “SYEDS”, this place was known as the village of the “CHANG” tribe. When Syeds came here, in the time of “Taimoor Lung” (the famous warrior), they developed this place.
Everyone who passed through this place used to drink water through “MUTS”. Therefore this place was named as “Mat Waree” which means (the place where Muts exist). After some time this place named as “Matiari”.
Matiari has a very rich past from educational point of view. Matiari is the land of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, the great Saint, Sufi poet, lover of Sindh and the world as well. Matiari is also known as the City of saints. Many famous saints of Sindh were born at Matiari. Some of them are Syed Pir Ruknuddin Shah, Syed Pir Hashim Shah, Syed Shahmeer Shah and many more others who preached Islam in this area.
Akhund Azizullah who was the first translator of The Holy Quran in Sindhi language was also native of Matiari. The First & Last “Shaheed” of the Khilafat Movement Muhammad Raheem Qazi was the resident of Matiari.
Matiari District has a very hot and dry climate in the summer. The maximum mean temperature touches 41.30 C. In summer, the dust storms are common and fierce hot winds blow. The climate in winter is ordinarily cold and bracing. The average annual rainfall in the district is 169.9 millimeter.
The people of the district belong to different caste, however noone is in majority. The main Muslim tribes are Syeds, Shaikhs, Jamotes and Khosa whereas Deewan, Kolhi and Menghwar belong to the Hindu community.
