| Mitharam Hostel | |
| Address: | Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed (Kutchary) Road in Serai Quarter |
| Location Town: | Karachi |
| Location Country: | Pakistan |
| Owner: | Government of Sindh |
| Current Tenants: | Paramilitary Pakistan Rangers (since 1992) |
| Coordinates: | 24.8525°N 67.0133°W |
| Start Date: | [1] |
| Floor Area: | 3639.66m2 |
| Architect: | James Strachan |
Mitha Ram Hostel, also spelled as Mitharam Hostel, is a historical building and former hostel in Karachi. It now serves as a sub-jail under the administration of Sindh Rangers since April 2015.[2] [3]
Mitha Ram Hostel shares a historical connection with D. J. Sindh Government Science College, which was established through the efforts of Indian lawyer, Dayaram Gidumal, in the late 1880s.[4] Gidumal campaigned for the college's construction, as many Karachi students could not afford to travel to Bombay for education.[4] Funded by both the Bombay and Karachi governments and private contributions, the college was completed in 1887 and named after Diaram Jethmal, whose family made a significant donation.[4]
The subsequent influx of students to Karachi necessitated the construction of a hostel.[4] Gidumal's brother, Mitha Ram, contributed financially to the project, leading to the hostel's completion in 1901.[4] [2] Notably, the Mitha Ram Hostel played a role in the 1940s independence movement, hosting meetings for activists such as Sobho Gianchandani and Hashu Kevalramani.[4]
In the 1990s, Syed Abdullah Shah, a former chief minister, intended to transform the building into a museum, but this plan never materialized.[4]
In 1992, the hostel was occupied by the Pakistan Rangers and later received the approval by the Chief Minister of Sindh, legitimizing a practice that had occurred without formal agreement for decades.[4] Initially, the Rangers were stationed at the hostel to maintain order and address escalating incidents of targeted killings and kidnappings in Karachi.[4]