Shahdadkot is the most populated and largest town of Qambar Shahdadkot District of Sindh, Pakistan. It is located around 44 kilometres northwest of Larkana and 32 kilometers north of Qambar. It is situated near Sindh-Balochistan border and the town is in close proximity to three districts of Balochistan namely Khuzdar, Jhal Magsi and Jaffarabad in the west and north of the district. It is also famous due to Shrine of Hakim Shah and the tomb of great Sufi Hazrat Mian Ghulam Siddique Mekan. Khuhawar tribe is known for its generous contributions to the town, having the highest land holding by any tribe. Late Khan Bahadar Pir Baksh Khuhawar has remained notable donor. Town is also a political stronghold of Pakistan People's Party since 1970. The town was also the constituency of the former prime minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto.
History
The old official name of Shahdadkot is Shahdadpur. Still old registered documents of British India period are available indicating said old name. The necessity for changing the name arose when postal service was started by the then British Indian Govt. There was another town of same name Shahdapur situated in then Hyderabad and now Sangher district of Sindh which created acute postal difficulties. Post deliveries of the one town were mistakenly being sent to other town hence it necessitated the change in name of either. Decision was made to change the name of this town as Shahdadkot. According to Gazetteer of Sindh1876 AD "Shahdadpur, a Government town in the Kambar taluka of the Larkana Deputy Collectorate in latitude 27 46 N. and longitude 68 E, distant about 30 miles north-north-west from Larkana. It was seated on the west bank of the Dato-Ji-Kur canal, and has road communication with Kamber, Garhi Khairo, Jamali and Hamal, and was the head-quarter station of a Tapadar. The town was situated in a barren tract, which, a short time after the conquest of province by the British, was almost destitute of population, and is described as being more like the bed of a salt lagoon in an interval of spring tides, than an inland district. The population, in nunmber was about 783, comprises 464 Musalmans of the Pirzadah, Kalhoro, Lashari, Siyal, Magsi, and Muhana tribes, the remainder being Hindus. The chief man of note in this place was Pir Bakhsh Khuhawar, a very influential and public spirited Zamindar, who had done much towards raising this town to its former prosperity. At one time Shahdadpur was a large place, from which Sir John Keane, when in Sind, drew supplies for his army, then on the point of advancing on Afghanistan, after that it fell into ruinous condition-so much so, that when Lieutenant James, the Deputy Collector of the Chandko district, visited it in 1846, an old Hindu was its only inhabitant.The town has a fair trade in wool, rice and grain of different kinds, but there are no manufacturers of any description in it." Shahadad was as per traditional record either name of one Shahdad Brohi or Mir Shahdad Khan Talpur. Official name of railway station of Shahdadkot is Silra Shahdadkot as one large thickly populated village of Silra community is situated in its close surrounding. The railway station has become defunct for last two decades.
Commerce & Industry
In summer season, weather of the town is hot and dry. In the month of May and June, temperature rises up to. Due to extremely hot weather, peddy/rice is common crop of this region and it has made it second largest rice market in Sindh province. The town is of economic importance as it is situated along the Guwadar Highway. The said part of highway is called Shahdakot Ratodero road. The length of the road in said two Talukas is 64 km. It was constructed by F.W.O. during January 1993 to December 2002. It links Shahdakot to Shikarpur, Sukkur, Sijawal Junejo, Qubo Saeed Khan, Khuzdar and Ustad Muhammad town. Rice and Wheat are major crops of its area. More than 50 Rice Husking Mills are situated within local limits of its Tahsil. Shahdadkot Textile Mill was situated in the north of Shahdadkot town. It employed around 4500 workers of the town and surrounding cities. The foundation of the mill was laid in 1974 by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, then Prime Minister of Pakistan. The mill was installed with cooperation of Chinese Government. Its operation was started in 1978. Due to mal-administration of the management during Zia ul Haq regime, it started to face financial crisis to the extent that management was unable to pay salaries and wages to its 4000 staff and workers. Subsequently, Governments took steps by granting funds to run it but could not succeed. Ultimately, it was permanently shut down on July 8, 2007. The plant and other assets were auctioned. Market of town includes various shops of electronic goods, agricultural tools, building material and food processing through bakeries and general & grocery stores.
