History

The town of Mirpurkhas was founded by Mir Ali Murad Talpur. After its foundation in 1806, the capital of Mankani Talpurs was shifted from Keti Mir Tharo to Mirpurkhas. The Mirpurkhas remain capital of Talpur Mirs of Mirpurkhas until 1843 when Sindh was annexed to British India under East India Company. Later Sindh was made part of Bombay Presidency and Mirpurkhas status changed to a district headquarter.

Location

By definition, the words Mirpur Khas means The land of the most high Mirs. It lies on the Let Wah Canal and is connected by rail and road with Hyderabad and by road with Umarkot. Some close neighbours include:

• Thar Desert, not more than 80 km away.
• Karachi situated 220 km south-west.
• Hyderabad at a distance of 65 km

Not far from the Indian border in the east, this city was one of the firsts to welcome refugees from India after the partition. The Indian border is 170 km away from this city. It acted as a primary railway junction for the first trains to rail across the Sindh Province.

The city is built on or may be just beside an old Buddhist metropolis of 4th century. There are reminents of the Stupa near the city known as "Kahoo Jo Daro", but slowly it is being turned into a flat land with the growth of population around it.

The city has a quint little bazaar called Khisakpura in local slang, which sells traditional graments, modern crokery, etc.

Founded in 1806 by Mir Ali Murad Talpur, it remained the capital of the Talpur rulers until their defeat by British forces under Sir Charles James Napier in 1843.

Railway link

Mirpur Khas is again a centre of attention. After 40 years a railway link between Pakistan and India is being opened again. A broad gauge line has been laid from Mirpur Khas to Khokra Par, which is the border town from Pakistani Side. The new link now connects Karachi (Pakistan) to Jodhpur (India) by the new train service Thar Express.

Irrigation and crops

The city increased in importance after the Jamrao Canal was opened in 1900. It is now a trade centre for grain, fabrics, and cotton products and also has fertilizer factory, sugar mill, cotton factories and many other factories. Mirpur Khas is famous for its mangos. It has the largest variety of mangos. The city holds a mango festival every year. One of the most famous varieties is called Sindhri.

Society

The city also has a Satellite Town which is considered a posh area. The city is considerably clean and has many places to hang around like parks, a museum, verious tea shops and a very famous Sindh Horticulture Research Institute and Farm.

Most people speak Sindhi but there is a significant Urdu speaking community, New Sindhi or the immigrants from India who came in 1947.

There are about 60% Muslims and 40% Hindus in the city & its surroundings.