Fabaceae / Papilionaceae

01
Introduction
Sindh is the third largest province (area wise) of Pakistan stretching about 579 km from north
to south and 442 km (extreme) or 281 km(average) from east to west, with an area of 140,915
km². It is situated between 23º and 29º north latitude and between 67º and 71º east longitude.
It is bordered by Balochistan and the Punjab from north, on the east by Rajasthan (India), on
the south by the Runn of Kutch and the Arabian Sea and on the West by Lasbela and Kalat
districts of Balochistan province. Traversed by the Indus River it has been continuously
inhabited since at least 2500 BC. It also derives its name from the River Indus, which in ancient
times was known as Sindhudesh, Sindhu being the original name of the River and desh
meaning territory.
The earliest reference of the settlement in this area has been found in the oldest written record
of the subcontinent, the Rig Veda. Other references are also found in the Mahabharata, the
ancient Hindu epic. The sites that can be considered Sindh’s crowning glory are the Indus
Valley Civilization at Mohenjodaro (located on the right bank of the Indus) in Larkana District,
and Makli, the world’s largest necropolis in Thatta District, both of which are classified as
World Heritage Sites. The first Muslim invader of the sub-continent, Muhammad Bin Qasim
invaded Sindh in 712 AD, making Sindh an important foothold for Muslims. Sindh is also
referred to as “Bab-al-Islam” (Gate of Islam) as it was the first place of orientation of Islam in
the South Asia. Since then Sindh has been a gateway for people entering the subcontinent
fromAsia,Africa, and even Europe (wikipedia.org).
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