Karachi

INTRO
Krokola, Morontobara, Barbarikon, The Port of Debal. Kolachi, Kolachi-jo-Goth, Khurachee Scindi. City of Lights, City of the Quaid, The Melting Pot of Pakistan. Behind all these aliases stretching from ancient times to contemporary history grandly stands the capital of Sindh Province and the most populous city in Pakistan, Karachi. Step into its unique cultural amalgam and let your whole being be overwhelmed by its contrasts, hectic pace, vast scope and breathtaking beaches. Get to know this business-friendly megacity and gather as many memories as possible from the unforgettable Karachi, which is not simply a city but represents a world of its own. Just let it leave its mark on you. It's worth it!

City Profile
City: Karachi
Country: Pakistan
Area: 3.530 km2
Population: 14.5 mln
Districts: 18
Mayor: Syed Mustafa Kamal
Language: Sindhi, Urdu

LOCATION
The capital of the province of Sindh on the western corner of South Asia is situated in its southern part. Its strategic position on the coast of the Arabian Sea, north-west of the Indus River Delta, has made it the chief port of Pakistan. The River Malir and the River Lyari pass through the vast city area, mostly made up of flat or rolling plains and surrounded by hills to the north and west.

TIME TO VISIT
Karachi has a relatively mild subtropical climate owing to its proximity to the Arabian Sea. Winters (November - February) are generally mild and summers (March - October) are hot but with constant humidity levels and cool sea breezes. The average temperatures during the winter and the summer season are respectively around 19 °C and 33 °C. The average precipitation, which maintains low levels, appears during the monsoon season in July and August. It is considered that the winter months are the best time to pay a visit because of the high summer temperatures. In addition, December and January offer a plethora of exciting social events.

POPULATION
With a current metropolitan population estimated at about 14.5 million, Karachi appears to be the most populated city in Pakistan and is also ranked among the top 5 cities in the world. The city owes its steady population growth to rural-urban internal migration and immense immigration. The ethnic diversity of the city is formed by a large number of communities, namely Muslims, Pashtuns, Muhajirs, Punjabis, Parsis, Hindus, Christians, Balochis, Gujaratis and Sindhis. The Muhajirs, who speak mostly Urdu, are however the predominant group. The immigrants and refugees nowadays amount to more than one million and represent different ethnic groups such as Tajiks, Hazaras, Uzbeks, Bengalis, Arabs, Iranians, Filipinos and Africans. The ethnic diversity clearly influences the languages spoken in the city.

DISTRICTS
The City District of Karachi, existing since the devolution in 2001, is divided into eighteen towns. They are all governed by elected municipal administrations. The towns are on their part subdivided into 178 localities governed by elected union councils. Apart from having administrative functions, the towns are important and attractive in a number of different ways. Some of the most noteworthy towns include the following:

New Karachi Town is a modern densely populated town in northern Karachi. It is a famous industrial and commercial area but also hosts a variety of educational institutions, parks and worship places.
Saddar Town lies in the central part of old Karachi. It is the main business and shopping district and comprises the historic Empress Market, the Central Bus Station, the Central Railway Station as well as the Port of Karachi and Clifton Beach.
Gulshan Town is home to the central campus of the University of Karachi, the offices of the City District Government and the Attorney General of Sindh province, making it an important administrative and educational centre. Three spectacular parks add colour to it.

SIGHTS & ATTRACTIONS
Karachi offers a wide choice of tourist attractions. You can feast your eyes upon anything from high-rise buildings to cultural landmarks as well as from glamorous shopping malls to divine beaches. The city will certainly live up to your expectations no matter what you prefer.

Mazar-e-Quaid / The National Mausoleum refers to the mausoleum of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. This white marble tomb with curved Moorish arches lies at the heart of the city. It is an emblem of Karachi throughout the world. Everyday you are welcome to watch the impressive changing of guards ceremony. More info on the admission fee and how to get there: http://www.humsafar.info/mau_site.htm
Masjid e Tooba / Tooba Mosque is a famous modern religious landmark in Karachi. It is situated in Defense Housing Society just off the main Korangi Road. Built in 1969, it is regarded as the largest single dome mosque in the world. Its elegant, flattened dome is 72 metres in diameter and the only minaret is 70 metres high. The mosque has excellent acoustics and the capacity of the central prayer hall is 5,000 people. More info and views: http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Asia/Pakistan/photo31610.htm
Frere Hall is a well-preserved remnant from the period of the British Raj in Karachi. Its construction honoured the name of Sir Henry Bartle Edward Frere, who encouraged economic progress in Karachi. It has a rather central location in the city and the structure itself constitutes the centrepiece of a beautiful park known as Jinnah Gardens. The park is now declared off-limits due to security concerns raised by the American Consulate, which faces Frere Hall. More info: http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Asia/Pakistan/Sind/Karachi-1311845/Things_To_Do-Karachi-Frere_Hall-BR-1.html
Sandspit Beach is one of the featured beaches in Karachi. It is located a few kilometres northwest of Karachi close to Hawke Bay's Beach. There are perfect conditions for sunbathing and swimming. You can also enjoy boating and camel riding. The beach is moreover nesting ground for endangered turtles and boasts a variety of marine algae and crabs. More info on beaches: http://www.karachicity.gov.pk/Beaches.asp
Mohatta Palace is a stone palace, meant to be the summer home of a Hindu businessman in the late 1920's. He was later forced to leave Pakistan because of the political upheaval and the palace was used for different purposes by the government. It is a massive structure in pink and yellow with many rooms, nine domes and a terrace, overlooking an emerald garden. Currently the palace hosts a museum with exhibitions showcasing the city's early history and road to freedom. More info on the admission fee and how to get there: http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Asia/Pakistan/Sind/Karachi-1311845/Things_To_Do-Karachi-Mohatta_Palace_Museum-BR-1.html

AIRPORT
The largest city of Pakistan is well connected to most parts of the world by means of one international airport.

Jinnah International Airport is the current name of Quaid-e-Azam International Airport and is commonly referred to as Jinnah Terminal. It is the biggest international and domestic airport in Pakistan. The distance between the airport and the city centre is 15 km and can be covered by available taxies and buses. The Radio/White Cab and Metro Cab services offer reasonable fares of around Rs15 Rupees per kilometre plus Rs50 calling charges. More info at: http://www.karachiairport.com.pk/

LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
You can rely on a few effective and pleasant ways of travelling around the city of Karachi.

Public buses include privately owned buses and minibuses. They are the means of transport used by the majority of the population. That's why they are always packed and don't offer the best conditions. Otherwise the bus fares tend to be low: Rs5 - 12.
Taxies are generally considered to be more reliable. You have a choice between three kinds of taxis: Metro, yellow and black. The yellow are said to be better than the black but are more expensive. Both kinds usually don't have metres so it's preferable to fix the price beforehand. Metro taxies are operated by private sector companies. As for the official rate, it is about Rs7 per kilometre but you should expect to pay more than that.
Karachi Light Circular Railway is planned to be built in the near future. The project for constructing a mass transit system has been under consideration since the 1980s but has only recently been revived. The expected duration of its accomplishment is four years.

HISTORY
Although the region around the port of Karachi had been known by many names to the ancient Greeks and the Arabs in the past, the life of the present city started officially in 18th century. It was originally a small fishing village, where an old fisherwoman Mai Kolachi settled to start a community. There is also another view that it was a village of the Baloch tribes. With the development of its harbour the settlement gradually grew into a large city and an important economic centre. It was however during the British rule in 19th century that the greatest development of the modern city took place. It was selected as the capital of Pakistan in 1947 and this triggered a huge and multiethnic immigration wave. Karachi has no longer the status of capital but remains the financial and industrial epicentre of Bangladesh.

CITY LINKS

DAWN, leading English newspaper of Pakistan: http://www.dawn.com/2007/06/10/index.htm
City District Government Karachi: http://www.karachicity.gov.pk/index.asp
Tourist Information: http://wikitravel.org/en/Karachi
The History of Karachi: http://www.historickarachi.com/
Places of Interest: http://visit.pakistanway.com/sindh/karachi.aspx

UNIVERSITY LINKS

University of Karachi, the largest public university and the fourth oldest university in the country: http://www.uok.edu.pk/
Aga Khan University, Pakistan's first private university: http://www.aku.edu/
Nadirshaw Edulji Dinshaw University of Engineering and Technology (NED University), Pakistan's largest and oldest engineering institution: http://www.neduet.edu.pk/