Short answers, pulled from the story.
Shah Jahan ordered construction of the mosque as a token of gratitude for Sindhi hospitality after he sought refuge from his father Emperor Jahangir. Some historians suggest the project also aimed to help alleviate effects of a devastating storm that impacted the region in 1637.
Construction began after a storm in 1637 but Shah Jahan was not present during its building despite funding it from imperial coffers. An eastern addition was completed in 1659 during Aurangzeb's reign while restoration works were carried out by Murad Ali Khan Talpur in 1812.
Central Asian campaigns introduced Turkic Persian and Timurid styles into Mughal architecture at this site with influences from Samarkand in modern-day Uzbekistan. The design reflects how military expansion directly shaped cultural monuments across the empire rather than purely Indian traditions.
A total of 93 domes make it the structure with the most domes in Pakistan without any minarets rising above the complex. A person speaking on one end of the dome can be heard from the other when speech exceeds 100 decibels allowing prayers to travel throughout the entire building without amplification.
Restoration works were carried out by Emperor Aurangzeb in 1692 and later by Murad Ali Khan Talpur in 1812. Historical records show the mihrab had actually been rebuilt a century after initial construction while popular tradition claims Sufi mystic Makhdum Nooh corrected alignment errors overnight through prayer power.