NEARLY 100,000 PUBLIC VIEWS, WOW!!! I'M PROUD TO PRESENT THE FINEST DISCRIPTIVE PHOTO ALBUM OF GREAT KARACHI, THE HEART OF PAKISTAN.

 

Don't forget to watch my new video composition on Karachi city.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjHgtanrCzs

 

Heya! thanks for your time to visit my page i'm a web development consultant I have done alot of work for different people who belongs to different parts of the world but they hardly know anything about Karachi city, so I thought to make this page which only have photos of my city.

 

The photographs in my section are only belongs to Karachi, the greatest city of Pakistan.

 

These photographs were actually not taken by me I have just gathered them from different websites and photostreams to make easier for me to invite others if they wish to see how Karachi looks like and yes for anyone else who would like to visit Karachi or want to know about the attractions of the city.

 

I am still looking for photographs of different attractions of Karachi I will keep adding them in this section as soon as I found any.

 

Some of the photographs you will find that I have added was taken by professional photographers or flickr members, but there was a necessary permission has already been taken to add their photo in this stream while their name and link in my stream is due to their curtesy as I admire their work and want other visitors to visit their stream as well, there are some photos with referrence link to websites where I copied the narration to avoid any misunderstanding of misleading information provided by me.

 

If there is any photograph you find which does not have any snapper's name and you think I have added any photograph(s) which was taken by someone who is an amateur or a professional photographer that you know let me know as well so I can put his name in description and tags etc.

 

If someone wish to write missing description of any photograph you may send by email or write in comments, i will then add it in description column.

 

Finally, about comments, I reserve full rights to delete anyone's comments and block anyone who post abusive, sexual, hatred, politics, personal discussion, describing bad experiences and any comments which I dont like.

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

KARACHI - The Great City of Pakistan

 

Province - Sindh

Area - 3,527 km²

Calling code - 021 (+9221)

Time zone - PST (UTC+5)

No. of Towns - 18

No. of Union Councils - 178

 

Karachi (Urdu: كراچى, Sindhi: ڪراچي/कराची) is the capital of the province of Sindh, and the most populated city in Pakistan, sometimes known as the City of Quaid (شہرِ قائد), after Muhammad Ali Jinnah the founder of Pakistan. It is located on the coast of the Arabian Sea in southeastern Pakistan, northwest of the Indus Delta. The city is the financial and commercial centre as well as the largest port of Pakistan.

 

The site of an ancient community of fishing villages, the modern port-city of Karachi was developed by authorities of the British Raj in the 19th century. Upon the creation of Pakistan in 1947, the city was selected to become the national capital, and was exposed to a massive influx of 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, and the population expanded even after the capital was moved to Islamabad in August 1960.

 

Karachi is the most ethnically and religiously diverse city in the nation. In the 1980s and early 1990s, Karachi witnessed a major influx of refugees from the war in Afghanistan, and increasing political and sectarian violence between the Punjabi and Sindhi communities, and the Mohajirs (descendants of immigrants from India). The intervention of the Pakistani army and martial law scarred the city, but a national economic boom in the early 21st century has resulted in economic growth and prosperity for the city. As of 2006 Karachi has an estimated population of 11.5 million, making it the second largest city in the world.

 

HISTORY OF KARACHI

 

The history of Karachi prior to the nineteenth century is brief. The name Karachi is purported to be derived from King Kusha, the son of Hindu God Lord Rama. Karachi was known as Barbarikon during the Indo-Greek Kingdom. According to legend, Krokola was settled when an old fisherwoman by the name of Mai Kolachi settled near the delta of the Indus River to start a community [2]. At Krokola, Alexander the Great camped and built a fleet for the voyage back to Babylonia. Alexander's admiral Nearchus sailed back to Mesopotamia from 'Morontobara' port, which is probably the modern Manora Island at Karachi harbor. When Muhammad bin Qasim conquered modern Pakistan in 712, the area was called Debal (or Debul) which may have been the ancestral village of present-day Karachi. According to the British historian Eliot, parts of city of Karachi and the island of Manora at port of Karachi constituted the city of Debal.

 

It was in 1772 that the village Kolachi-jo-Goth was changed from a fishing village to a trading post when it was selected as a port for trade with Muscat and Bahrain. In the following years, a fort was built and cannons brought in from Muscat were mounted on it. The fort had two doorways, one facing the sea called the Khāro Dar (in Sindhi), Khārā Dar (in Urdu) or Brackish Gate Kharadar and one facing the River Lyari called the Mīṭho Dar (in Sindhi), Mīṭhā Dar (in Urdu) or Sweet Gate Mithadar. Currently, the site of those gates corresponds to the location of the neighborhoods of Kharodar and Mithodar. In 1795 the city passed from the Khan of Kalat to the rulers of Sindh.

 

Karachi gained in position as a port which led to its importance being recognized by the British, and consequently led to the conquering of the town on the February 3, 1839. Three years later, it was annexed into British India as a district. The British recognized the importance of Karachi as a natural harbor and port for the produce of the Indus basin, and the city was rapidly developed into a bustling port city. A famous quote about Karachi attributed to Charles Napier is: Would that I could come again to see you in your grandeur!.

 

Napier's quote proved almost prophetic as it was under the British Raj that Karachi would grow rapidly as its harbor was developed. When the First Indian War for Independence broke out in 1857, the 21st Native Infantry stationed in Karachi declared allegiance to the rebellion and joined the cause of the war on September 10, 1857. The British quickly reasserted control over Karachi and defeated the uprising.

 

In 1876, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, was born in the city, and he would later be buried there. By this time Karachi was a developed city with railroads, churches, mosques, paved streets, courts and many commercial centers as well as a magnificent harbor built by the British. Many of the buildings were built in classical British colonial style, contrasting significantly with the "Mughal Gothic" of Lahore. Many of these old buildings exist today and provide interesting destinations for visitors. Karachi continued to grow in size as well as importance due to its position as a major port. A railroad connected Karachi to the rest of British India in the 1880s. Population grew from 73,500 (1881), to 105,199 (1891), to 115,407 (1901) (Britannica 1911 ed.). In 1899 Karachi was said to be the largest wheat exporting port in the East (Feldman 1970:57). In 1911 when the capital was shifted to Delhi, Karachi became closer to being a Gateway to India. Karachi was declared the capital of the newly formed Sindh province in 1936, chosen over the traditional capital city, Hyderabad.

 

In 1947, Karachi was made the capital of the new nation of Pakistan. At that time Karachi was a city of 400,000 people, and its growth accelerated as a result of its new status. Being the capital, Karachi became a focal point for the new nation and this added to its status as a cultural centre in this part of the world. Although the capital later moved to Rawalpindi and then Islamabad, Karachi remains the economic centre of Pakistan, accounting for a large portion of the GDP of the country and large chunk of the nation's white collar workers. In the 1960s, Karachi was seen as an economic role model around the area and there was much praise for the way its economy was progressing, but in the 1990s, the city was wracked with sectarian violence. In the last 20 years, Karachi has continued to grow, reaching the 12 million (estimated) mark. The current economic boom in Pakistan has created a growth spurt in Karachi.

 

GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE

 

Karachi is located in southern Pakistan, directly north of the Arabian Sea. The city covers an area of 3,527 square kilometres, which are 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 Malir River from the north-east to the centre, and the Lyari River, which flows from north to south. There are a number of other smaller rivers that pass through the city as well. The Karachi Harbor is a sheltered bay to the south-west of the city, and is protected from storms by Kemari and Manora Islands, as well as by Oyster Rocks. Together, these natural barriers block the greater part of the harbour entrance in the west. Karachi is delimited by the Arabian Sea towards the south by a chain of warm-water beaches.

 

Located on the coast, Karachi tends to have a relatively mild climate, with low average levels of precipitation (approximately 10 inches per annum), the bulk of which are contributed to by July-August monsoon rains. Although the city enjoys mild winters and suffers through hot summers, proximity to the sea maintains humidity levels at a near-constant high. Due to high summer temperatures high (the range runs from 30 to 44 degrees Celsius across the months of April through August), the winter months (November through 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.

 

Climate of Karachi - Avg temperature (in °C)

 

Jan - 13 to 25

Feb - 14 to 26

Mar - 19 to 29

Apr - 23 to 32

May - 26 to 34

Jun - 28 to 34

Jul - 27 to 33

Aug - 26 to 31

Sep - 25 to 31

Oct - 22 to 33

Nov -18 to 31

Dec - 27 to 14

 

ECONOMY

 

Karachi is the financial capital of Pakistan. It accounts for the lion's share of Pakistan's GDP and generates about 65% percent of the national revenue providing a Gross Metropolitan Product of $263 Billion and a GMP per capita of $21,917 rivaling western European and American cities. Most of Pakistan's public and private banks have their head offices in Karachi. Nearly all of these are located on I.I Chundrigar Road (Pakistan's Wall Street).

 

With collaboration from a Qatar-based company, the Karachi Port Trust is taking on a Rs. 20 billion project, the Port tower complex, which will be 1,400 feet high. It should be finished within six years.[5][6] It will comprise a hotel, a shopping center, and an Expo center. Integrating into Karachi’s skyline, the main feature of the venture shall be a revolving restaurant, a viewing gallery offering a panoramic view of the coastline and the city. The Tower is planned to be located at the Clifton shoreline. It will be amongst the ten tallest buildings of the world.

 

Besides banking and finance, Karachi also hosts the offices of foreign multinational corporations as well as corporations based in Pakistan. It is home to the largest stock exchange of Pakistan: the Karachi Stock Exchange. This financial boom helped Pakistan to achieve its ambitious goal of exceeding a seven percent growth in GDP for the fiscal year 2004-05.

 

The recent trend of ICT (Information & Communications Technology), electronic media and call centers has become a significant part of Karachi business hierarchy. Call centers 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 per cent in order to gain foreign investments in the IT sector.

 

Many of Pakistan’s independent television and radio channels are headquartered in Karachi. Geo, ARY, Hum and AAJ TV are the most popular ones. While KTN, Sindh TV, Kashish TV are famous in old Karachi and rural areas and suburbs of the city. They generate revenues for the city in advertising and provide jobs and entertainment. These channels are on satellite and can be seen all over the world.

 

Karachi also has a huge industrial base. There are several large industrial zones on the fringes of the main city. The main industries are textiles, pharmaceuticals, steel, and automobiles. Apart from these, there are many cottage industries in the city as well. Karachi is also the software outsourcing hub of Pakistan. It also has a rapidly flourishing Free Zone with an annual growth rate of nearly 6.5 per cent. An Expo center has also been set up in Karachi and is now available to host many regional and international exhibitions.

 

Karachi is also home of major automobile manufacturing companies. Toyota and Suzuki Motor Company are located in Karachi. The manufacturing plant located in Bin Qasim has a production capacity of 50,000 vehicles per year. Among others Millat Tractors, Adam Motors, HinoPak Buses and Trucks manufacturing plants are also located in Karachi. The automobile manufacturing sector is one of the fastest growing industries in Pakistan, and a large vendor industry associated with it is also located pricipally in Karachi.

 

The Port of Karachi and nearby Port Qasim are the two main seaports of Pakistan, and Quaid-e-Azam International Airport is the largest airport in Pakistan.

 

During 1960s, Karachi was seen as an economic role model around the developing 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 its Second Five Year Plan, 1960-65, not just that, World financial center in Seoul was designed and modeled after Karachi.[citation needed] While in the early 1960s the per capita income of Pakistan was more or equal to Korea, the latter ended up among the more developed of the developing countries, with a GDP per capita greater than $8,000 today.

 

CULTURE

 

Karachi is home to some of Pakistan's important cultural institutions. The National Academy of Performing Arts, [7] located in the newly renovated Hindu Gymkhana offers a two year diploma course in performing arts that include classical music and contemporary theatre. The All Pakistan Musical Conference, linked to the 45-year old similar institution in Lahore, has been holding its Annual Music Festival since its inception in 2004. The Festival is now a well-established feature of the city life of Karachi that is awaited anxiously and attended by more than 3000 citizens of Karachi as well as people from other cities.[citation needed] The National Arts Council (Koocha-e-Saqafat) also has musical performances and Mushaira (poetry recitations). Karachi has a few museums including the Mohatta Palace museum that regularly has exhibitions as well as the National Museum of Pakistan. The Kara Film Festival organized annually showcases independent Pakistani and international films and documentaries.

 

The everyday lifestyle of Karachi differs substantially from that of other Pakistani towns. The culture of Karachi is characterized by the blending of Middle Eastern, South Asian and Western influences, as well as the status of the city as a major international business centre. As a whole, there is considerable diversity in culture, and this diversity has produced unique cultural amalgam of its own type. Karachi also hosts the largest middle class stratum of the country. Karachi is the provincial capital of Sindh Provincial region.

 

EDUCATION

 

Karachi has the highest literacy rate in Pakistan along with the most universities and colleges. The city is well-known for its young student population who flock there from all parts of Pakistan. Most universities of Karachi are considered to be amongst the premier educational institutions of Pakistan with competitive admissions processes. The universities include:

 

* University of Karachi

* NED University of Engineering and Technology

* Institute of Business Administraton

* College of Business Management

* Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology

* Ziauddin Medical University

* Hamdard University

* Bahria University

* Aga Khan University

* National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences-(FAST)

* Dow University of Health Sciences

* Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology

* Iqra University

* Usman Institute of Technology

 

SPORTS

 

Popular sports in Karachi include cricket, hockey, boxing, football and horse racing. The 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 city also has facilities for hockey (the Hockey Stadium of Pakistan, UBL Hockey Ground), boxing (KPT Sports Complex), squash (Jehangir Khan Squash Complex) and football (Peoples Football Stadium and the Polo Grounds). In 2005, the city hosted the SAFF Cup Football Tournament at the People's Football Stadium. Marinas and Boating Clubs also add to the diverse sporting activities in Karachi.

 

Karachi has a number of sporting clubs such as the Karachi Gymkhana, the Sindh Club, the Karachi Club, the Muslim Gymkhana, the Creek Club and the DHA Club that provide sporting facilities to their members, including tennis, badminton and squash courts, swimming pools, jogging tracks, gymnasiums, billiards and much more. There are two world class golf clubs, at DHA and Karsaz. Informal sporting activities are also popular, such as night-time cricket which can be seen at weekends when people play brightly-lit night matches on less traversed city streets.

 

SHOPPING

 

Karachi is dotted with many shopping areas, large and small, all across the city. Karachiites are avid shoppers, as can be seen from the crowds of people these markets attract every evening. Saddar, Gulf Shopping Mall, Bahadurabad, Tariq Road, Zamzama, Zaib-un-nissa Street (Elphinestone Street) and Hyderi are the most famous shopping areas in the city. One can find all sorts of clothing, garments, and fabrics in Karachi's bazaars, as well as a number of other items. The Saddar area in downtown Karachi is also home to countless large and small markets dealing from everyday household items to clothing and fabrics to electronics. Empress Market in Saddar is a large Victorian-era market, home to wholesalers of spices and other items. Some other notable shopping areas include Paposh Market and Hydari.

 

Karachi also has a number of large modern shopping malls, among which the Park Towers, The Forum, Millennium Mall and Dolmen Mall are notable. More of these malls are currently being built, including the Atrium Mall, Jumeira Mall, IT Tower and the Dolmen City Mall.

 

TRANSPORTATION

 

The city has a modern international airport called the Jinnah International Airport, Pakistan's busiest. The city's old airport terminals are now used for Hajj flights, cargo facilities, and ceremonial visits from heads of state. U.S. Coalition forces used the old terminals for their logistic supply operations as well. Apart from this, the city also has two other airstrips used primarily by the armed forces.

 

Karachi has the largest shipping ports in Pakistan at the Port of Karachi and Port Qasim. These seaports have modern facilities and not only handle trade for Pakistan, but also serve as ports for Afghanistan and the land-locked Central Asian countries. Plans have been announced for new passenger facilities at Karachi Port.

 

Karachi is linked via railway to the rest of the country by the Pakistan Railways. The Karachi City Station and Karachi Cantonment Station are the city's two major railway stations. The railway system handles a large amount of freight to and from the Karachi port apart from providing passenger services to people travelling up country. There are plans to extend the circular railway system to play a part in the city's mass transit.

 

Currently, primarily motorists and minibuses handle commuter traffic, but there are plans to construct a light-rail based mass transit system in the city to decongest the roads and provide quick service to commuters.

 

and finally

 

SITES OF INTEREST

 

* Mazar-e-Quaid (Mausoleum of the founder of Pakistan- Muhammad Ali Jinnah)

* Koocha-e-Saqafat (National Arts Council)

* Abdullah Shah Ghazi Mausoleum (Ummayad general and Karachi's patron soofi saint)

* Manora Beach

* Clifton beach

* Seaview, Clifton beach

* Hawke's Bay Beach

* Paradise Point Beach

* Sandspit Beach

* Cape Mounte Beach

* French Beach

* Russian Beach

* Pakistan Air Force Museum

* Pakistan Maritime Museum

* National Museum of Pakistan

* The Mohatta Palace Museum of Karachi and regional history

* Merewether Tower

* Frere Hall

* Khaliq Deena Hall

* Jehangir Kothari Parade

* St. Patrick's Cathedral

* Hindu Gymkhana (now National Academy of Performing Arts)

* Karachi Club

* Clifton Oyster Rocks

* Manora Island

* Bundle Island

* Bhit Shah Island

* Bin Qasim Park

* Safari Park

* Aladdin Park

* Sindbad Park

* Karachi Zoo (Gandhi Garden)

* Sea View's Park

* Aziz Bhatti Park

* Central Park at University Road

* Hill Park

* Dream World Resort

* Race Course of University Road

* DHA Golf Course

* Capri Cinema

* Nishat Cinema

* Prince Cinema

* Lyric Cinema

* Universe Cineplex

* Burns Road - The food street

* Openair Buffet at Laal Qila

* Openair Buffet at Mela

* Karachi Expo Centre

* Port Fountain Jet

* Tariq Road - The Shopping Street

* Hyderi Market

* Zainab Market

* Zamzama

* Dolmen Mall

* Gulf Shopping Mall

* Park Towers Shopping Centre

* Jumeira Mall