Dadu District (, ) is a district in the Sindh Province of Pakistan. With headquarters in the city of Dadu, the district was created in 1931 by merging Kotri and Mahal Kohistan (later Jamshoro) tehsils from Karachi District and Mehar, Khairpur Nathan Shah, Dadu, Johi and Sehwan tehsils from Larkana District.
In 2004, several talukas in the south were split off to create the new Jamshoro District. Its boundary touches four districts of Sindh: Jamshoro, Naushahro Feroze, Shaheed Benazirabad and Kamber Shahdadkot.
The main languages spoken in Dadu are Sindhi, Balochi and Urdu. Some of the popular tourist attractions in the district include the Gorakh Hill and Manchar Lake.
In 1931, Dadu District was created by the birfucation of Larkana District.
Pre-Dadu Sub-Divisions
Pre-Sehwan Sub-Divisions
District Dadu has four tehsils, as tabulated below:
The District has 14 Circles, 111 Tapa and 351 Dehs.
As of the 2023 census, Dadu district has 340,471 households and a population of 1,742,320. The district has a sex ratio of 102.95 males to 100 females and a literacy rate of 47.13%: 55.26% for males and 38.70% for females. 543,260 (31.18% of the surveyed population) are under 10 years of age. 439,034 (25.20%) live in urban areas.
The majority religion is Islam, with 99.15% of the population. Hinduism (including those from Scheduled Castes) is practiced by 0.64% of the population.
According to the 2023 census, 99% people in the district spoke Sindhi as their first language.
The following is a list of Dadu District's 351 dehs, organised by taluka:
The city of Dadu, located in the Sindh province of Pakistan, is home to a number of educational institutions. These institutes contribute to the educational development and skill enhancement of the region's population, offering a range of programs from primary to higher education.
The Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Institute of Management Sciences (BBSIMS) in Dadu is a constituent campus of Sukkur IBA University. Established around 2011, it operates under the academic and administrative framework of Sukkur IBA University, a prominent public university recognized by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan.
BBSIMS Dadu primarily focuses on providing market-relevant education in fields such as Business Administration (BBA) and Computer Science (BS in CS/IT). The campus aims to make quality higher education accessible to students in the Dadu region, aligning with Sukkur IBA University's broader mission of fostering a skilled workforce and contributing to socio-economic development.
The Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Campus Dadu is a constituent college of the University of Sindh, Jamshoro. Established in 2011, this campus was founded to provide higher education opportunities at the doorstep of the people of Dadu, particularly for female students.
The campus offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs in faculties such as Business Administration, Information Technology, and English. It operates under the academic guidelines and standards set by the main University of Sindh. The University of Sindh is recognized by the HEC of Pakistan.
Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), a leading distance learning institution in Pakistan, operates a Model Study Center in Dadu. Established in 1988, this center provides essential support services to AIOU students, including academic guidance, tutorial support, and examination facilities, enabling individuals to pursue education through flexible learning modes.
The Government Pir Illahi Bux Law College Dadu is a prominent institution for legal education in the region, affiliated with the University of Sindh, Jamshoro. Established on October 1, 1995, it offers Bachelor of Laws (LLB) programs (both 3-year and 5-year degrees). The college moved to its new building on May 21, 2012, enhancing its facilities for legal studies.
The Ustad Bukhari Degree College, Dadu, named after the renowned Sindhi poet Ustad Bukhari, is a general degree-awarding college. The college was named in honor of Ustad Bukhari after his death, recognizing his services as a teacher and poet. It offers various undergraduate programs in arts, science, and commerce, catering to the diverse academic needs of students in Dadu and surrounding areas. It is generally affiliated with the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University Benazirabad for degree validation.
These are government-run vocational and technical institutes that primarily offer diplomas in commerce (D.Com) and other commercial and business-related fields. GIBCE Dadu plays a role in providing intermediate-level professional education to equip students with practical skills for the job market. They operate under the administrative control of the Sindh Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (STEVTA).