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K A R A C H I

Dear Members !

In our Pakistan tour, After giving explanation of Pakistan's History, We are going to visit Karachi atleast 5 days.

First I will give you briefing about Karachi, Then we will go to its historical places. We will enjoy together, So be happy and cheer up...



Above mentioned picture is beutiful seen of Karachi. In which clearly visible Karachi's Rush Area I.I Chundrigar Road. Habib Bank Plaza is also clearly visible for us.

But be patience, First you will have to take lecture of Karachi's History, Then we will move forward...



To be continoue with Karachi's History first...

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Karachi (help·info) (Sindhi: ڪراچي, Urdu: كراچى) is the provincial capital of Sindh province and the largest city in Pakistan. It is also one of the largest cities in the world and is located on the northern shores of the Arabian Sea, west of the Indus River Delta. It was the original capital of Pakistan and remains the cultural and economic hub, as well as being the largest seaport of the country. Its leading economic sectors include finance, business services, transportation, media, television production, publishing, software, medical research, education and tourism.

Spread over 3,530 square kilometres (1,363 sq mi), the city and suburbs comprise the world's twentieth largest metropolitan area.[4] The city credits its growth to the mixed populations of economic and political migrants and refugees from different national, provincial, linguistic and religious origins who have largely come to settle here permanently. It is locally termed as the "City of Lights" (روشنين جو شهر) for its liveliness and the "City of the Quaid" (شهرِ قائد), having been the birth and death place of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, as well as his home after 1947. Residents of Karachi are called "Karachiites".



Country Pakistan
Province Sindh
Municipal Committee 1853
Municipal Corporation 1933
Metropolitan Corporation 1976
City District Government 14th August 2001
City Council City Complex, Gulshan Town
Towns 18[show]
Baldia
Bin Qasim
Gadap
Gulberg
Gulshan
Jamshed
Kiamari
Korangi
Landhi
Liaquatabad
Lyari
Malir
New Karachi
North Nazimabad
Orangi
Saddar
Shah Faisal
SITE
Government [1]
- Type City District
- City Nazim Mustafa Kamal (MQM)
- Naib Nazim Nasreen Jalil
Area [2]
- Total 3,527 km² (1,356 sq mi)
Elevation 8 m (26 ft)
Population (2008)[3]
- Total 12,461,423
- Density 3,533.2/km² (9,189.8/sq mi)
Time zone PST (UTC+5)
Area code(s) 021
Website: http://www.karachicity.gov.pk City-District Government of Karachi



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The Baloch tribes from Balochistan and Makran established a small settlement of fishing communities,[5] many of whom still inhabit sections of Sindh, and called it Kolachi. The modern port-city of Karachi, however, was developed by authorities of the British Raj in the 19th century. Upon the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the city was selected to become the national capital, and was settled by Muslim immigrants from India, which radically expanded the city's population and transformed the demographics and economy. Karachi has faced major infrastructural and socio-economic challenges, but modern industries and businesses have developed in the city.

The area of Karachi was known to the ancient Greeks by many names: Krokola, the place where Alexander the Great camped to prepare a fleet for Babylonia after his campaign in the Indus valley; 'Morontobara' (probably Manora island near Karachi harbour), from where Alexander's admiral Nearchus set sail; and Barbarikon, a port of the Indo-Greek Bactrian kingdom. It was later known to the Arabs as Debal, the starting point for Muhammad bin Qasim and his army in 712 CE.

The present city started life as a fishing settlement when a Sindhi fisherwoman called Mai Kolachi took up residence and started a family. The village that later grew out of this settlement was known as Kolachi-jo-Goth (Village of Kolachi in Sindhi). By the late 1700s the village was trading across the Arabian Sea with Muscat and the Persian Gulf region. A small fort was constructed for its protection, armed with cannons imported from Muscat. The fort had two main gateways: one facing the sea, known as Kharra Darwaaza (Brackish Gate) and the other facing the Lyari River known as the Mitta Darwaaza (Sweet Gate). The location of these gates correspond to the modern areas of Kharadar (Khārā Dar) and Mithadar (Mīṭhā Dar).

In 1795, the village became a domain of the Balochi Talpur rulers. A small factory was opened by the British in September 1799, but was closed down within a year. After sending a couple of exploratory missions to the area, the British East India Company conquered the town on February 3, 1839. The town was later annexed to the British Indian Empire when Sindh was conquered by Charles James Napier in 1843. On his departure in 1847, he is said to have remarked, "Would that I could come again to see you in your grandeur!".

Karachi was made the capital of Sind in the 1840s. On Napier's departure it was added along with the rest of Sindh to the Bombay Presidency. The British realized the importance of the city as a military cantonment and as a port for exporting the produce of the Indus River basin, and rapidly developed its harbour for shipping. The foundations of a city municipal government were laid down and infrastructure development was undertaken. New businesses started opening up and the population of the town began rising rapidly.


Part of the town of Karachi, with mud houses; camels and villagers in foreground. April 1851


In 1857, the First Indian War for Independence broke out in the subcontinent and the 21st Native Infantry stationed in Karachi declared allegiance to rebels, joining their cause on September 10, 1857. Nevertheless, the British were able to quickly reassert control over Karachi and defeat the uprising. Karachi was known as Khurachee Scinde (i.e. Karachi, Sindh) during the early British colonial rule.

In 1864, the first telegraphic message was sent from India to England when a direct telegraph connection was laid between Karachi and London.[6] In 1878, the city was connected to the rest of British India by rail. Public building projects such as Frere Hall (1865) and the Empress Market (1890) were undertaken. In 1876, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, was born in the city, which by now had become a bustling city with churches, mosques, courthouses, markets, paved streets and a magnificent harbour. By 1899 Karachi had become the largest wheat exporting port in the east.[7] The population of the city was about 105,000 inhabitants by the end of the 19th century and was a cosmopolitan mix of Hindus, Muslims, Europeans, Jews, Parsis, Iranians, Lebanese, and Goans. By the turn of the century, the city faced street congestion, which led to India’s first tramway system being laid down in 1900.


An old image of Karachi from 1889


In 1914 Karachi became the capital of the new province of Sindh. By the time the new country of Pakistan was formed in 1947, Karachi had become a bustling metropolis with beautiful classical and colonial European styled buildings lining the city’s thoroughfares. Karachi was chosen as the capital of Pakistan and accommodated a huge influx of migrants and refugees after partition. The demographics of the city changed dramatically but it still maintained cultural diversity as new residents arrived from all parts of India. In 1958, the capital of Pakistan was moved from Karachi to Rawalpindi and then to Islamabad in 1960. This marked the start of a long period of decline in the city, marked by a lack of development. The 1980s and 1990s saw an influx of refugees from the Afghan war into Karachi. Political tensions between the Muhajir groups (descendants of migrants from the partition era) and other groups also erupted and the city was wracked with political and sectarian violence. Most of these tensions have now simmered down.

Karachi continues to be an important financial and industrial centre and handles most of the overseas trade of Pakistan and the central Asian countries. It accounts for a large portion of the GDP of Pakistan and a large proportion of the country's white collar workers. Karachi's population has continued to grow and is estimated to have passed the 20 million mark, although official figures still show a population of around 14.5 million. The current economic boom in Pakistan has also resulted in a new period of resurgence in the economy of Karachi.

To be continoue

[$herry]

the picture of Karachi is old one ..... I do have alots of new pics and collection ..... it will be posted here if you allow ....

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Dear Jazba

Thanks for replying here... yeah why not dear, You can also share the stuff related to Karachi here. Not only you, I am inviting all members to share thier stuff related to Karachi here....


PS I am facing problem in forum pk... all threads are diverted to google search page. Are you also facing this problem ? Please reply me

[$herry]

thnx ... I will sure ...


Nah I din hv dis prbz yet

[$herry]

Shehar-e-Karachi

Azad loog hain shehar azad sa bhi hai
kuch hain ameer or koi barbaad sa bhi hai

Har zulm seh k bhi yahan chup chap bethna
aise jo hai samjho k wo sayyad sa bhi hai ...

Shehar ki chamak to yunhi barqarar hai
Har maa k lal par ik azaab sa bhi hai .......

Is ki tareekh main har dour hain guzrein
isse khol ke parhlo ye ik kitaab sa bhi hai

Har rang ka admi or har zaban ka yahan
parda khula hai kahin or hijaab sa bhi hai

Ghareebon ko pasty milty hai ameroon ko bartari
nokar hai koi yahan to koi sahab sa bhi hai .........

Pyara shehar hai Humien is pe fakhar bhi hai .
is se mohabbat karna Esal e Sawab sa bhi hai

CITY OF LIGHTS ....






The metropolitan area along with its suburbs comprises the world's second most populated city, spread over 3,530 square kilometres. The city credits its growth to the mixed populations of economic and political migrants and refugees from different national, provincial, linguistic and religious origins who have largely come to settle here permanently. It is locally termed as the City of Lights (روشنیوں کا شہر) for its liveliness and the City of The Quaid



Karachi municipal Corporation head Office



The towns are sub-divided into 178 localities governed by elected union councils (UC's), which are the core element of the local government system. Each UC is a body of thirteen directly elected members including a Nazim (mayor) and a Naib Nazim (deputy mayor). The UC Nazim heads the union administration and is responsible for facilitating the CDG to plan and execute municipal services, as well as for informing higher authorities about public concerns and complaints.
In elections of 2005, Syed Mustafa Kamal








Merewether Memorial



Habib Bank Plaza



NED University

The NED University of Engineering and Technology Karachi was established in March 1977 under the Act of Provincial Assembly of Sindh on upgradation of the former NED Government Engineering College, Karachi. From the historical point of view , therefore , the University is fairly young. However, the NED Government Engineering College which originally formed the nucleus of the University structure , was setup in 1922 and was thus the oldest engineering institution of Pakistan. Initially starting from an enrolment of 50 students in Civil Engineering more than seven decades ago , the students population now in the main campus has gone up to around 4000 at undergraduate and graduate levels.



[b]Agha Khan University and Hospital[/img]





major venue for cricket matches is the National Stadium but matches are also hosted at the UBL Sports Complex, The A.O. Cricket Stadium,the KCCA Cricket Ground, the Karachi Gymkhana Field and the DHA Cricket Stadium.

The other popular sports are hockey, boxing, football, golf, table tennis, snooker, squash, and horse racing. Other sports like Badminton, volleyball and basketball are also famous in school and colleges.



Safari Park is the biggest park of Karachi stretching over 407 acres, located in the middle of Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Gulistan-e-Johr area. The great dayout place for family and friends, this park has a lake where people enjoy feeding ducks and fishes, zoo of various species of 500 mammals and 200 birds, openair eating places, chairlift, huge gardens, high mountains for adventurers to climb and enjoy the highest place of city and there is a highest point to view around the city.



Kemari Town


Beach Park



Askari Park




Bagh Ibn-e- Qasim, the country’s largest park spreaded over 130 acres, inaugurated by President Pervez Musharraf on February 27.

The park is so enormous it can accommodate at least 300,000 people at a time and opens day and night. A portion of the enormous garden offers more than 100 animals in action but they can not move as they are the genus of flowering plants
like lajastonia and bougainvillea, which have been carved in such a way that they resemble different animal species.

The garden’s exclusivity is that it is along the Arabian Sea, which no other park possesses.


Aladin Park


Jinnah International Air Port

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Geography and climate

Karachi is located in the south of Sindh, on the coast of the Arabian Sea. The city covers an area of approximately 3,530 square kilometres (1,363 sq mi), comprised largely of flat or rolling plains, with hills on the western and northern boundaries of the urban sprawl. Two rivers pass through the city: the River Malir which flows from the east towards the south and centre, and the River Lyari, which flows from north to the south west. The Port of Karachi is a sheltered bay to the south-west of the city, protected from storms by the Sandspit Beach, the Manora Island and the Oyster Rocks. The Arabian Sea beach lines the southern coastline of Karachi. Dense mangroves and creeks of the Indus delta can be found towards the south east side of the city. Towards the west and the north is Cape Monze, an area marked with projecting sea cliffs and rocky sandstone promontories. Some excellent beaches can also be found in this area.

Located on the coast, Karachi tends to have a relatively mild climate with low levels of average precipitation (approximately 10 inches per annum), the bulk of which occurs during the July-August monsoon season. Winters are mild and the summers are hot, however the proximity to the sea maintains humidity levels at a near-constant high and cool sea breezes relieve the heat of the summer months. Due to high temperatures during the summer (ranging from 30 to 44 degrees Celsius from April to August), the winter months (November to February) are generally considered the best times to visit Karachi. July, December and January have pleasing and cloudy weather when most of the social events, ranging from weddings to charity fundraisers, frequently take place. Tourists and expatriates visit Karachi in these months, Highest recorded is 47.8 °C (118.0 °F) and lowest is 0 °C (32 °F).[8]

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Karachi temperatures Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Avg. high (in °C) 25 26 29 35 35 35 33 31 31 38 31 27
Avg. low (in °C) 10 14 19 23 26 28 27 26 25 30 18 14

Government
The City of Karachi Municipal Act was promulgated in 1933. Initially the Municipal Corporation comprised the mayor, the deputy mayor and 57 councillors. The Karachi Municipal Corporation was changed to a Metropolitan Corporation in 1976. The administrative area of Karachi was a second-level subdivision known as Karachi Division, which was subdivided into five districts: Karachi Central, Karachi East, Karachi South, Karachi West and Malir. In 2000, the national government implemented a new devolution plan which abolished the second-tier divisions and merged the five districts of Karachi into a new City District, structured as a three-tiered federation, with the two lower tiers composed of 18 towns and 178 union councils (UC).[9]

The towns are governed by elected municipal administrations responsible for infrastructure and spatial planning, development facilitation, and municipal services (water, sanitation, solid waste, repairing roads, parks, street lights, and traffic engineering), with some functions being retained by the City-District Government (CDG).[9] The third-tier 178 union councils are each composed of thirteen directly elected members including a Nazim (mayor) and a Naib Nazim (deputy mayor). The UC Nazim heads the union administration and is responsible for facilitating the CDG to plan and execute municipal services, as well as for informing higher authorities about public concerns and complaints.

In the elections of 2005, Mustafa Kamal was elected City Nazim of Karachi to succeed Naimatullah Khan and Nasreen Jalil was elected as the City Naib Nazim. Mustafa Kamal was previously the provincial minister for information technology in Sindh. His predecessor, Naimatullah Khan was chosen as one of the best mayors in Asia.[10] Mustafa Kamal is advancing the development trail left by Naimatullah Khan, and has been actively involved in maintaining care of the city's municipal systems.[11]. There are also six military cantonments administered by the Pakistan Army which do not form part of the City of Karachi.


Karachi's View at night

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A Satellite view of Karachi

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Demographics

The population and demographic distribution in Karachi has undergone numerous changes over the past 150 years. Non-governmental and international sources estimate Karachi's current population at about 20 million[12] — a huge increase over its population in 1947 (400,000). The city's population is currently growing at about 5% per year (mainly on account of rural-urban internal migration), including an estimated 45,000 migrant workers coming to the city every month from different parts of Pakistan.[13]

Before 1947, Karachi had large communities of Parsis, Jews, Hindus, Christians, Balochis, Gujaratis, and Sindhis. After independence, a large number of Hindus left the city for India and were replaced by Urdu-speaking Muslim refugees now known as Muhajirs. The Muhajirs originated from different parts of India and brought with them their local cultures and cuisines, further adding to the already diverse mix of people that earlier inhabited Karachi. Currently, these older groups and continuing migration from different parts of Pakistan have contributed to a very cosmopolitan mix of residents.

The new government allotted much of the property left by the departing Hindus and other groups to the new immigrants to help them settle into the new country. However, the large number of Muhajirs also formed the dominant political majority in the city, which gave them substantial political clout, to the chagrin of the Sindhi and Balochi inhabitants. Also, the vagaries of mass migration of populations between the two newly independent countries gave rise to ethnic tensions which have surfaced in Karachi from time to time.

Since 1979, due to the Soviet war in Afghanistan and continued upheavals in their country, a steady stream of Afghan refugees have also taken up permanent residence in and around Karachi[14]. These refugees now number more than one million and comprise a number of ethnic groups: Pakhtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, Uzbeks, and Turkmen. There are also hundreds of thousands of Arabs, Iranians, Filipinos, Arakani refugees (from Rakhine State in Myanmar), Bosniaks, Albanians, Poles, Lebanese, Armenians, Goans, Bengalis and African immigrants who are also settled in Karachi. Most refugee minorities of the city live in poor neighbourhoods.

According to the 1998 census, the linguistic distribution of the city is: Urdu: 48.52%; Punjabi: 13.94%; Sindhi: 7.22%; Pashto: 11.42%; Balochi: 4.34%; Saraiki: 2.11%; others: 12.4%. The others include Gujarati, Dawoodi Bohra, Memon, Brahui, Makrani, Khowar, Burushaski, Arabic, Persian and Bengali[15].

The religious breakup of the city is as follows: Muslim: 96.49%; Christian: 2.35%; Hindu: 0.83%; Ahmadi: 0.17%; others 0.13%. The others include Parsis, Jews and Buddhists[16] [17]




Saint Patricks Cathedral

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Economy

Karachi is the financial capital of Pakistan; it accounts for the lion's share of GDP and revenue. It generates over 60% of the total national revenue (federal and provincial taxes, customs and surcharges).[18] Karachi produces about 42 percent of value added in large scale manufacturing. In February 2007, the World Bank identified Karachi as the most business-friendly city in Pakistan.[19]

Most of Pakistan's public and private banks are headquartered on Karachi's I.I. Chundrigar Road, while most major foreign multinational corporations operating in Pakistan have their headquarters in Karachi. The Karachi Stock Exchange is the largest stock exchange in Pakistan, and is considered by many economists to be one of the prime reasons for Pakistan's 8% GDP growth across 2005[20]. During the 1960s, Karachi was seen as an economic role model around the world, and there was much praise for the way its economy was progressing. Many countries sought to emulate Pakistan's economic planning strategy and one of them, South Korea, copied the city's second "Five-Year Plan" and World Financial Centre in Seoul is designed and modeled after Karachi.[21][22]


A part of Karachi's financial district

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The Port of Karachi and nearby Port Qasim are the two main seaports of Pakistan, and Jinnah International Airport is the largest and the busiest airport in Pakistan.

Recently, Karachi has seen an expansion of information and communications technology and electronic media and has become the software outsourcing hub of Pakistan. Call centres for foreign companies have been targeted as a significant area of growth, with the government making efforts to reduce taxes by as much as 80% in order to gain foreign investments in the IT sector[23][24]

Many of Pakistan’s independent television and radio channels are based in Karachi including Geo, ARY, Hum, AAJ TV, CNBC Pakistan and Dawn News as well as several local stations.





An aerial view of the port and harourKarachi has several large industrial zones such as SITE, Korangi, Northern Bypass Industrial Zone, Bin Qasim and North Karachi located on the fringes of the main city[25]. The primary areas are textiles, pharmaceuticals, steel, and automobiles. In addition, Karachi has a vibrant cottage industry and there is a rapidly flourishing Free Zone with an annual growth rate of nearly 6.5%.

The Karachi Expo Centre hosts many regional and international exhibitions[26].

Karachi has branches of major motor companies such as Toyota, Honda, BMW, Audi, Porsche, Mercedes, Rolls Royce, Nissan and Suzuki, as well as the Adam Motor Company and HinoPak.[27] [28]

There are many development projects proposed, approved and under construction in Karachi city. Among projects of note, Emaar Properties is proposing to invest $43bn (£22.8bn) in Karachi to develop Bundal Island, which is a 12,000 acre (49 km²) island just off the coast of Karachi[29]. The Karachi Port Trust is planning a Rs. 20 billion, 1,947 feet (593 m) high Port Tower Complex on the Clifton shoreline.[30][31] It will comprise a hotel, a shopping centre, an exhibition centre and a revolving restaurant with a viewing gallery offering a panoramic view of the coastline and the city.

Other projects include: MCB Tower (completed), Crescent Bay, Karachi (under construction), Karachi Waterfront (approved), Karachi Creek Marina (under construction), Sugarland City (approved), Dolmen Towers (under construction), I.T. Tower (approved), Buddo Island (approved), Square One Towers (under construction), Sign Tower (approved), Karachi Mass Transit System, Enshaa Towers (approved), Karachi FPCCI Tower (proposed), City Centre (proposed), Malir Expressway (proposed), Northern Bypass Industrial Area (under construction).

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[DIYA_786]

Haiiii, yeh sab dekh kar mujhe karachi yaad agaya, mujhe jaana haiiiiiiii! :(
have u got any pics of hawks bay? aj bohat yaad araha hai

[Faraz]

well such a superb thread abt pak aisa informative and useful thread pehly kabi nahi dekha
very nice
mere khud b aisa thread banane ko del kar raha tha pr itni information nahi mil rahi thi muje
lekin u ne aisa kar dikhya

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Originally Posted by DIYA_786

Haiiii, yeh sab dekh kar mujhe karachi yaad agaya, mujhe jaana haiiiiiiii! :(
have u got any pics of hawks bay? aj bohat yaad araha hai

Dia.. I promiss I will take you for Hawksbay soon. Today my net hasn't fuel.

Meanwhile apko picnic kay liyay achay achay khanay pakanay hongay...

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Originally Posted by mfaraz