Sindh

Sindh
  • سنڌ
  • سندھ
Province of Sindh
Etymology:
from Sindhū (Indus River), literally meaning 'river'
Nicknames: 
  • Mehrān (Gateway)
  • Bāb-ul-Islām (Gateway of Islam)
Location of Sindh in Pakistan
Coordinates: 26°21′N 68°51′E / 26.350°N 68.850°E / 26.350; 68.850
Country Pakistan
Established1 July 1970 (1970-07-01) (current form)
Before wasPart of West Pakistan
Capital
and largest city
Karachi
Divisions
Government
 • TypeFederated parliamentary republic
 • BodyGovernment of Sindh
 • GovernorNehal Hashmi (PML-N)
 • Chief MinisterMurad Ali Shah (PPP)
 • Chief SecretarySyed Asif Haider Shah
 • LegislatureProvincial Assembly
 • High CourtSindh High Court
Area
 • Total
140,914 km2 (54,407 sq mi)
 • Rank3rd
Elevation
173 m (568 ft)
Population
 • Total
55,696,147
 • Rank2nd
 • Density395/km2 (1,020/sq mi)
DemonymSindhi
GDP (nominal)
 • Total (2022)$86 billion (2nd)
 • Per Capita$1,997 (3rd)
GDP (PPP)
 • Total (2022)$345 billion (2nd)
 • Per Capita$7,209 (3rd)
Time zoneUTC+05:00 (PKT)
ISO 3166 codePK-SD
Official languages
HDI (2021)0.517
Low
Literacy rate (2023)
  • Total:
    (57.54%)
  • Male:
    (64.23%)
  • Female:
    (50.21%)
Seats in National Assembly75
Seats in Provincial Assembly168
Divisions6
Districts30
Tehsils138
Union Councils1108
Websitesindh.gov.pk

Sindh is a province of Pakistan, located in the southeastern region of the country. It is the third-largest Pakistani province by land area and second-largest by population (after Punjab). It is bounded by the Arabian Sea to the south and borders the provinces of Balochistan to the west and Punjab to the north; in addition to sharing an international border with the Indian states of Gujarat and Rajasthan to the east. Karachi, located along the southern coast, is the capital and largest city. Sindh's landscape consisting mostly of alluvial plains flanking the Indus River, the Thar Desert in the eastern portion of the province along the international border with India, and the Kirthar Mountains in the western portion of the province.

The economy of Sindh is the largest in Pakistan (in front of the province of Punjab); its provincial capital Karachi is the most populous city in the country as well as its main financial hub. Sindh is home to a large portion of Pakistan's industrial sector and contains two of the country's busiest commercial seaports: Port Qasim and the Port of Karachi. The remainder of Sindh consists of an agriculture-based economy and produces fruits, consumer items and vegetables for other parts of the country.

Sindh is sometimes referred to as the Bab-ul Islam (transl. 'Gateway of Islam'), as it was one of the first regions of the Indian subcontinent to fall under Islamic rule. The province is well known for its distinct culture, which is strongly influenced by Sufism, an important marker of Sindhi identity for both Hindus and Muslims. Sindh is prominent for its history during the Bronze Age under the Indus Valley civilization, and is home to two UNESCO-designated World Heritage Sites: the Makli Necropolis and Mohenjo-daro.