Islamkot

Islamkot Sindhi: اسلام ڪوٽ
Town
Islamkot Show map of Sindh Islamkot Show map of Pakistan
Coordinates: 24°43′N70°12′E / 24.717°N 70.200°E / 24.717; 70.200
Country	Pakistan
Province	Sindh
Division	Mirpur Khas
District	Tharparkar
Area
• Total	6.55 km2 (2.53 sq mi)
Elevation	56 m (184 ft)
Population  (2023) [1]
• Total	19,064
Time zone	UTC+5 (PST)
Calling code	0232

Islamkot is a town in south-eastern Sindh, Pakistan. ^[a] It has gained prominence due to its proximity to the Thar coalfield and the development of power generation projects, which making it a centre for investment and urban expansion in the region. ^[2]

According to the 2023 census, the town had a population of 19,064. ^[1] It functions as a town council and serves as the administrative headquarters of Islamkot Tehsil in Tharparkar District. ^[3]

Geography and demographics

Islamkot lies in the Thar Desert, about 42 kilometres (26 mi) east of the district headquarters at Mithi and just over 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of the international border with India's Kutch District in Gujarat. According to the 2017 census, the population of the Islamkot Town Committee stood at 24,880, reflecting an annual growth rate of 4.68%, nearly double that recorded in 1998. The surge has closely linked to planned and ongoing development initiatives in the area. ^[2]

The town is also known as the "Neem Tree Town" due to the abundance of neem trees. ^[4] Hindus constitute the larger religious community in Islamkot and outnumber Muslims. ^[5] It is the birthplace of the Hindu saint Shri Sant Nenuram, whose Nenuram Ashram remains an important place of pilgrimage. ^[6]

Economy

Commerce in Islamkot is centred on the sale of food, consumer goods, and household items. Despite a relatively high number of shops, customer turnover is modest. The town is located on a major highway between Mithi and Nagarparkar, serving as a stopover point for travellers and tourists, especially during the monsoon season.

Urban growth

Urban expansion has increased significantly in recent years, particularly along the Mithi–Islamkot road and in the town's northeast and southwest outskirts. Growth has, however, been largely unplanned. The built-up area expanded from 2.4 square kilometres (0.93 sq mi) in 2004 to 6.55 square kilometres (2.53 sq mi) in 2018, according to satellite imagery.

Development

The exploitation of vast coal reserves and the establishment of mining blocks are transforming the settlement's economic and physical landscape. To manage this anticipated growth, the Government of Sindh has initiated a 20-year 'Development Master Plan' to provide guidelines for sustainable urban development. Islamkot has also been designated to become the first Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)–compliant taluka (tehsil) in Sindh. ^[2]

References and notes

Explanatory notes

1. Sindhi: اسلام ڪوٽ, pronounced [ɪsˈlaːmkoːʈ] , Urdu: اسلام کوٹ, pronounced [ɪsˈlaːmkoːʈ]

References

1. "Table 1: Area, Population by Sex, Sex Ratio, Population Density, Urban Population, Household Size and Annual Growth Rate, Sindh" (PDF). pbs.gov.pk. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Census. 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
2. "Master Plan for Islamkot. Strategic Development Plan Report" (PDF). Urban Directorate Sindh. Karachi: Planing and Development Department, Government of Sindh. November 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
3. Brinkhoff, Thomas. "Pakistan: Sindh (Districts and Subdistricts) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
4. Hasan, Shazia (23 December 2022). "Arid Islamkot is turning green,but not with envy". Dawn.com. Dawn . Retrieved 31 August 2025.
5. "Table 9: Population by sex, religion and rural/urban, Census 2023" (PDF). pbs.gov.pk. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Census. 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
6. "Three-day festival begins to mark Sant Nenuram's death anniversary". Dawn.com. Dawn. 18 September 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2025.