Sindh was annexed to British rule in the year 1843 and integrated with
Bombay Presidency in 1847. Considering that proper preservation of all
records regarding Indus Valley is necessary an accommodation was acquired
within the compound of Government house (now Governor’s House) and a
record room was established there during 1853. Commissioner in Sindh
was the Chief Officer of province at that time therefore Commissioner
Office was entrusted with the responsibility to collect all important
records. The records since 1820 onward were preserved at record room.
The Commissioner's Record Branch was originally located in a
bungalow situated within the cantonment limits. The record was moved
to the house situated close to the government house in the same compound.
In 1885, the Commissioner desired that the records of Survey Record Office
Hyderabad be shifted to Karachi, owing to insecurity and unsuitability.
The new accommodation was constructed in 1903, within the compound of
commissioner’s office. In 1904, Superintendent Land Records and Agriculture
moved their office to Karachi but after one year’s experience same was
transferred back to Hyderabad, whole new arrangement was retained for
Record room and Library of Commissioners Office. In 1923 the Record
Room was extended as required, thus in next 6 years all the records
were shifted from main building of the Office. The next years saw some
more extensions, but after the separation of Sindh from Bombay Presidency
in 1937, the Commissioners' Office ceased to be the prime office of the
Province, and much of the attention previously given to the records was
now available no more. This was followed by the emergence of Pakistan as
an independent state including Sindh as its province.
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