Hyderabad Sindhi is the town and capital of the Hyderabad Division in the Sindh province of Pakistan. It is the second-largest city in Sindh, and the eighth
largest in Pakistan
Founded in 1768 by Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro of the Kalhora Dynasty, Hyderabad served as provincial capital until the British transferred the capital to the presidency of Bombay in 1847.
It is about 150 km 93 mi inland in the state of Karachi, the largest city in Pakistan. connected by a straight railway line and a road.
The city was named in honor of Ali, [6] the fourth ruler and cousin of the Prophet Muhammad. Hyderabad's name literally translates as "The City of the Lion" from Haydar, meaning "lion," and ābād, which is an appendix signifying correction.
"Lion" refers to Ali's prowess in battle, hence he is often referred to as Ali Haydar, meaning "Ali the Lionheart," by Muslims in South Asia. Pacco Qillo is built on limestone known as Ganjo Takkar.
The Indus River changed its course in 1757, leading to occasional flooding of the then capital of the Kalhora empire, Khudabad.
 |
| INDUS |
The small hill is believed to have been the ancient settlement of Neroon Kot, a city that had fallen under the forces of Muhammad Bin Qasim in 711 CE.
At the time of the foundation, the city was known by the nickname Mehran Heart. Devotees of Imam Ali advised Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro to name the city in honor of their Imam. The Iranian Shah later gave the city a stone that was said to bear Ali's feet.
The stone was placed at Qadamgah Maula Ali, then a pilgrimage site. In 1768, Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro ordered the building of a fort on one of the three hills of Hyderabad to accommodate and protect his people.
The castle was made of baked clay bricks, which gave it the name Pacco Qillo, meaning Cindy Strong. The castle was completed in 1769, and it spread over 36 hectares. Mian Ghulam Shah also built the "Shah Makki Fort," commonly known as the Kacha Qila, to fortify the tomb of Sufi Saint Saint Makki.
Hyderabad remained the capital of Kalhora when Sindh was annexed under their rule. Attracted by the city's security, Hyderabad began attracting artists and traders from all over Sindh, thus resulting in the decline of rival trading centers such as Khudabad.
Half of the population of Khudabad moved to a new capital city, which included the Sonaras, Amils, and Bhaibands. Those groups keep the word "Khudabadi" in the names of their communities as a symbol of origin.
Mian Ghulam Shah died in 1772, and was succeeded by his son, Sarfraz Khan Kalhoro. In 1774, Sarfraz Khan built the "New" Khudabad north of Hala in memory of the old capital Kalhoro, and tried to move his capital there.
 |
| Sarfraz Khan |
Effort failed, and Hyderabad continued to prosper when New Khudabad was abandoned in 1814. The official plan of the city was set up by Sarfraz Khan in 1782.
Mir Fateh Ali Khan Talpur captured the city of Khudabad at Kalhoros in 1773, making the city his capital. He then captured Hyderabad in 1775 and relocated to his capital there in 1789 after Khudabad once again flooded.
Renovation and reconstruction of the city fortress began in 1789, and lasted for 3 years. Celebrations were held in 1792 to mark his official entry into the Pacco Qillo castle, which he made his residence and held court.
Talpur law maintained the safety of Hyderabad, and the city continued to attract migrants from all over Sindh, transforming the city into a major regional center. Lohana Hindus from Afghanistan migrated to the city and set up the ship as metalworkers.
The city's goldsmiths, silversmiths, and tanners began selling their Hyderabadi goods abroad. The city textile industry thrived with the arrival of Susi and Khes cotton and handicrafts from the rural towns of Sindh.
The city became famous for its producers and bookmakers, while its carpet sellers traded carpets for the nearby Thatta.
Henry Pottinger traveled up the Indus River in the early 1830's in place of the English. He said he had seen 341 ships in 19 days in Hyderabad, indicating its importance as a major trading center during this period.
Hyderabad goods were exported to markets in Khorasan, India, Turkestan, and Kashmir - although some of Hyderabadi's goods were on display at The Great Exhibition of 1851 in London.
In order to use the Indus River for trade routes to Punjab, the British signed an agreement with the rulers of Hyderabad and Khairpur guaranteeing a British freeway along the Indus and Sindh.
Mir Murad Ali was compelled to accept the treaty of 1838 which led to the suspension of a British citizen in the city.
The British also signed an "everlasting friendship" agreement with the Talpur dynasty of Hyderabad in the early 19th century, promising that they would not allow the French to establish a settlement in Sindh.
