The district derives its name from its headquarters town Dadu. It lies between 24 –57 and 27-27 north latitudes and 67 - 09 to 68 - 25 east longitudes. It is bounded on the north by Larkana district, on the east by Naushero Feroze, Nawabshah and Hyderabad districts, on the south by Thatta district, on south – west by Malir district and Lasbela and Khuzdar districts of Balochistan Province.The area of the district is 19070 square kilometer.

Physical Feature and Topography

The Dadu district may be divided into three parts, which are dissimilar in character namely

1. the Kohistan or hilly area
2. the barrage zone and
3. the low lands riverian area.

The Kohistan consists of range limestone hills, known as the Kirthar Range. It extends along the whole western boundary of the district, with a breadth of nineteen to twenty – four kilometers.

In Sehwan taluka it spread out and approach the Laki hills, which rising near Sehwan, run south along the western boundary of the district so that sufficient portion of the taluka is hilly. The Kirthar range consists of an ascending series of ridges running generally north. The highest ridge of range forms the boundary between Sindh and Balochistan, Its general height at its northern extremity being about 1500 meters: towards the south the height declines.

The most elevated peak named Kute-Ji-Qubar (i.e. the dog’s grave) is 2096 meter above sea level and 244 meters immediately below it to the north is a plateau known as Dharyaro. Bleak, rugged and barren as these hills look, they afford pasturage for large flocks of sheep and goats. The valleys are green with grass after rain and capable to cultivation up to a height of about 1000 meters. Regular terraces, bounded by huge boulders, known as ‘Kafir Kot’ bear witness to existence of extensive cultivation at some remote period.

In the tortuous rocky channels, which drain the hills there, are pools sufficiently permanent to source the survival of several species of fish. In these spots ferns, wild flowers and ever shady trees are found.

Between the hills and the Indus the area may properly be described as a broad shallow, since the middle line, from north to south, is considerably below the level of the Indus on the one side and the base of hills on the other. By this depression the hill torrents and the water of the barrage canals all find their way to the Mancher Lake and thence by the Aral to the Indus. The soil is the rich alluvial loam of the Indus valley. The northern part of the district used to be subject to the Indus flood or Lets. Some portion of lands in Mehar and Khairpur Nathan Shah talukas are kalarish and affected by waterlogging and salinity but the rest of the low lands are for the most part remarkably fertile. There is magnificent water supply in the north (middle of the district) from Dadu and Rice Canals and in the east from river Indus. To the west canal irrigation is restricted by the gradual rising of the area in the direction of the hills with the result that this area of the district which is known as Kachho assumes the bare and dreary aspect of pat. This and the diminishing supply of water combine to make Johi taluka, the least productive in the district. The district is intersected with natural water courses (Dhoras ) and depression ( Dhandhs ) which in some cases retain water throughout the year and yield a large growth of babul trees in their edges.

The river Indus flow along the eastern boundary of the district. There is no other river in the district except numerous watercourses, which drain the hills and are known as Nais. The most important of them is Gaji. The other Nais are Baran, Sann and Sol.

The Mancher Lake is the biggest natural lake in Asia. When it is in full capacity it covers an area of 259 square kilometers at its maximum and when it shrinks, it covers an area of 52 square kilometers at its minimum. Apart from being storage of fish, it is also a source of water irrigating about 20,000 to 25, 000 acres of land. The other important lake is Ganero about 16 kilometers from Mehar.

Climate

The climate of the district is intensively hot in summer and cold enough in winter. The salient feature of climate is the higher difference in temperature between its southern and northern areas.The southern area, which consists of taluka Kotri, Thano Bula Khan and major part of Sehwan have moderate climate whereas Johi, Dadu, Mehar and Khairpur Nathan Shah talukas have extreme weather conditions. The other peculiar feature of climate is sub zero temperature in Gorakh Hill Range during winter and where mercury column remains below than 20oC even in June and July. The average annual rainfall in the district is about 120 millimeters.

Detailed data on temperature and rainfall is not available for the district. Dadu town is however, situated on the same latitude as that of Padidan town of Naushreo Feroze district.

Flora

The district is rich in flora. Mancher Lake is an ideal place having different kinds of botanicals Plants. Different kinds of grasses and other plants of low growth are considerable. The chief trees are the balm (populus euphratica), kandi (prosopis specigera), siras (mimosa sivissa), babul (accacia arabica), pipal (ficus religiosa). The natural shrubs are kal, dear, thuher and khore.

With the exception of humbler species like jackal, wild life is almost non-existent. Hyenas and wolves are hardly ever seen. Pigs though diminished, are still found in small numbers.Manchar Lake has a variety of migratory birds coming from Siberia. Among other birds partridge both grey and black is remarkable. Common kinds of wild ducks and waterfowls can be seen during winter season.

Agriculture

All crops of Kharif and Rabi are grown in the district. Such crops are wheat, rice, cotton, sugar cane, barely, jowar, bajra, gram, sesame and tobacco.

Irrigation

The district is irrigated by Sukkur Barrage system except for small portion, which is irrigated by Kotri Barrage. There are two main canals in the district, Rice canal and Dadu canal. Besides, these the land is also irrigated by the tube wells and spill of the river Indus.

The growing of flowers, fruit and vegetable though not practiced on large scale and commercial scale but ample horticulture is carried out to fulfill the needs of locals of the district.

Forestry

The total area under forest in district Dadu is 217,000 hectares. The important forests are Gidarji, Gagh, Unerpur, Budhapur, Rajri, Manjhand, Amri, Abad, Kundah Khairo Dero, Bhan, Kaloo Bhori, Shah Grah Dhandan, Keti Lalya, Keti Jatoi, Kacho Sita, Kandi Baghban, Sona Bindi, Kacho Magsi, Kamal Dero, Budho Dero, Soi, Nari and Qasim Shah. The forest yields 239,000 cubic feet of timber and 78,000 cft of firewood.

The farming of livestock is rife in Dadu district. Many tribes are involved in this business and earn livelihood through this mean. The farming of animals has greater variety and include buffaloes, cows, goats, sheep etc.

Industry

The district has many industrial units at Kotri and Nooriabad, like textile, tobacco, detergent, cement etc. The Dadu sugar mill at Piaro Goth is providing employment opportunities to locals to some extent.

Mining

The district is rich in mines. The Kirthar Range is a great source of lime, limestone, gravel, salt, sand and marble. These mines are found in talukas of Sehwan, Kotri and Thano Bula Khan. The coal obtained from Lakhra Coal mines is fulfilling national needs. Apart from that, reservoirs of gas and petroleum have been explored in Sehwan, Johi and Thanno Bula Khan talukas. The district gets substantial revenue from these mines.

Trade

The district has trade, which has roots in agriculture. The trade of wheat, rice, cotton, sugar-cane is carried out mainly from Johi, Meher and Khairpur Nathan Shah talukas. The fish obtained from Manchar Lake and other source is also sent commercially to the various parts of the province.

The district headquarter is connected with its taluka headquarters through metalloid and un-metalloid roads. There are about 5945 kilometers of metalloid and 568 kilometers of un- metalloid roads in the district. A new bridge has been completed over river Indus connecting with Moro, Naushehro Feroze and Nawabshah. Apart from that, work on Indus highway from Jamshoro to Sehwan has been completed. This highway is made on modern engineering techniques and is conspicuous of its quality and standard. The district is also connected by railways. Pakistan Railway line passes through this district from Bholahri to Radhan station. The district is well provided with post and telegraph offices besides telephone facilities.