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View of Merewether Clock Town in downtown Karachi, Pakistan | KarachiSource: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:
Merewether_Clock_Tower,_Karachi#/media/File:Merewether_Clock_Tower_from_above.JPG
Author: Tan Afridi
Merewether_Clock_Tower,_Karachi#/media/File:Merewether_Clock_Tower_from_above.JPG
Author: Tan Afridi
Karachi (کراچی) is the biggest city in Pakistan. The city district covers 3,527 sq km (1,361 sq mi) and has a population of 13 million people, within a metropolitan area of 24 million people. Karachi is the main port as well as financial centre for Pakistan. It is also the provincial capital of Sindh. The city is the 10th largest urban agglomeration in the world.
Karachi is located in the southern part of Pakistan facing the Arabian Sea. It has been inhabited since ancient times. Even the Greeks know about it, as Alexander the Great camped there in preparation of his invasion of Babylonia. It was known by many different names, among them Krokola, Barbarikon and Devak. The present name originated as Kolachi as used by the fishing tribes living in the area.
By the 18th century, Kolachi has growed into a trading port. The Sindhi people built a fort here to protect their city. The British conquered the city on 1 February 1839, and brought it within the British Indian Empire.
Karachi became the capital of Sindh in the 1840's. Under the British, the port of Karachi was developed to export produce of the Indus River basin. By the time Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, was born in the city in 1876, it had become a bustling city. By 1899 it was the biggest exporter of wheat in the East.
Karachi continued to grow into a metropolis with many elegant colonial buildings. When Pakistan gained its independence in 1947, Karachi was chosen to be the capital. Its population experienced another boom with an influx of Muslim refugees from India. The capital was relocated in 1958 to Rawalpindi, and then in 1960 to the purpose-built Islamabad.
Karachi remains today the main financial and industrial nerve center of Pakistan, with the largest proportion of the country's white collar workers as well as the biggest contributor to its GDP.
Visiting Karachi
Visitors to Karachi arrive at the Jinnah International Airport (KHI), which receives flights from Delhi, Dubai, Singapore, London and Toronto, among others.Places of Interest to visit in Karachi
- Aladdin Park
The largest theme park in Karachi, Aladdin Park also includes a shopping center. It is a place for the entire family to enjoy themselves. - Chaukhandi Tombs
Tombs of the Jokhio and Baluch tribes between the 15th and 18th centuries, located east of Karachi. - Clifton Beach
A beach area with amusement park, small stalls, horse-riding and camel-riding facilities. - Mazar-e Quaid
The tomb of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Mazar-e Quaid is located in the heart of Karachi. The mausoleum is of pure white marble with curved arches. - Mohatta Palace Museum
Originally built as the residence of Fatima Jinnah, the sister of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, it si today a museum showcasing artifacts of ceramic art. - National Museum of Pakistan
Founded in 1950, the museum showcases the art and cultural heritage of the country. Today its exhibits spread over eleven galleries. - Three Swords Monument
Monument commissioned by former president Zulfiker Ali Bhutto, this is one of the icons of the city. - Wazir Mansion
Birthplace of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, this mansion is in Kharadar, on the outskirts of Karachi.
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