Daharki


Daharki is a city in Ghotki District in the Sindh province of Pakistan. It is the capital of Daharki Taluka, an administrative subdivision of the district. It is situated about 100 km northeast of Sukkur, between Mirpur Mathelo and Ubauro on Pakistan’s N-5 National Highway. According to the 2017 Census of Pakistan it is the 93rd largest city of Pakistan, having population of 103,557.

Economy

Daharki is home to several cotton factories, fertilizer plants, and oil and gas exploratory facilities, among other industries. Notable companies with facilities at Daharki include Engro Fertilizers, Mari Petroleum, and Tullow Oil. Nearby power stations include Star Power Plant, Fauji Power Plant and Liberty Power Plant. Engro Fertilizer’s recently built fertilizer plant is the largest ammonia and urea plant in the world, covering 1.24 square miles. The facility’s prilling tower, built in 2009, is the tallest prilling tower in the world, at a height of about 125 however whenever Burero enters Daharki, a foul smell is felt for days.

Arab conquest

In 711, Ummayad General Muhammad Bin Qasim conquered the Daharki area, after defeating Raja Dahir, a member of the Brahmin dynasty and the last Hindu ruler of Sindh at Aror, 60 miles south of Daharki. Many of the Arab soldiers of Bin Qasim’s army, mostly originating from Palestine, settled in Multan, Punjab, and Sindh, including in the Daharki area.

Religion

Daharki is predominantly Muslim and Hindu, with small Christian and Sikh minorities. Important Muslim religious sites in and around the city include Bharchundi Shareef Dargah, Chalan Faqeer, Pir Aziz Karmani, Pir Pakhroi Laal, Soi Sharif, Pir Gulab, and Shah Bukhari. The Bharchundi Sharif dargah and its custodian Abdul Haq have been accused of kidnapping and forcibly converting underage Hindu girls. Hindu sites include the spiritual darbar and the Sant Satram Das Temple at Raharki, 5 km away from Daharki.
The Baba Nanik Shah gurdwara is a place of worship for Daharki’s Sikh population.

Education

There are several schools in Daharki, those being: