Karachi کراچی
Logo
Location within Pakistan
Karachi Location within Pakistan
Coordinates: 24°51′36″N 67°00′36″E / 24.86, 67.01
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 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 (Muttahida Qaumi Movement)
- 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

Karachi (help· info) (Sindhi: ڪراچي, Urdu: کراچی) is the provincial capital of Sindh province and the largest city in Pakistan. In terms of population, it is one of the largest cities in the world^[4], and is Pakistan's premier centre of banking, industry, and trade. Karachi is also the home of Pakistan's largest corporations that are involved in entertainment, publishing, software development, medical research. It also serves as a major hub of higher education in South Asia, and the wider Islamic World. Karachay-Cherkess Republic (Russian: , or, less formal, Karachay-Cherkessia ) is a federal subject of Russia (a republic). ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 644 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (1,383 × 1,288 pixels, file size: 73 KB, MIME type: image/png) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Red_pog. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Currently, Pakistan is subdivided into four provinces, two territories, and also portions of Kashmir that are administered by the Pakistani government. ... Sindh (SindhÄ«: سنڌ, UrdÅ«: سندھ) is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhis. ... Baldia Town is a town located in the western part of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan with a population of more than 400,000 at the 1998 census. ... Bin Qasim Town is one of the towns in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. ... Gadap Town is one of the towns in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. ... Not to be confused with Gulberg (Lahore). ... Gulshan Town is one of the towns in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. ... Jamshed Town is one of the towns in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. ... Kiamari Town (also spelt Keamari and Kemari) is the main coastal town of Karachi, located in the central and western parts of the city, including the Port of Karachi and an extensive coastline with sandy beaches, small islands and mangrove forests. ... Korangi Town is a town in the eastern parts of Karachi, Pakistan, south of the Malir River. ... Landhi Town is a large industrial town in the eastern part of Karachi, Pakistan. ... Liaquatabad Town is a town in the central part of Karachi, Pakistan named after Liaquat Ali Khan, the first Prime Minister of Pakistan. ... Lyari Town is the smallest town by area in the city of Karachi, but also the most densely populated town. ... Malir Town is a small densely populated town in the eastern part of Karachi, with Jinnah International Airport and the Malir Cantonment to the west and north, the Malir River and Shah Faisal Town to the south and Gadap Town to the east across the Thado Nallo stream. ... New Karachi Town is a small densely populated town in the northern part of Karachi, located between the Lyari River, the Manghopir Hills and two major roads - Surjani Road to the north and Shahrah-e-Zahid Hussain to the south. ... North Nazimabad Town is one of the neighborhoods of North Nazimabad Town in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. ... Orangi Town is a small densely populated town in the northwestern part of Karachi, bordered by New Karachi Town to the north across the Shahrah-e-Zahid Hussain, Gulberg Town to the east across the Gujar Nala stream, Liaquatabad Town to the south, and SITE Town to the west. ... Saddar is one of the neighborhoods of Saddar Town in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. ... Shah Faisal Town is one of the towns in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. ... Sindh Industrial Trading Estate SITE Town is one of the towns in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Nasreen Jalil (22 February 1947 in Lahore) is the currently the Naib Nazim of the city of Karachi, Pakistan. ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... Elevation histogram of the surface of the Earth – approximately 71% of the Earths surface is covered with water. ... Population density per square kilometre by country, 2006 Population density map of the world in 1994. ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ... Pakistan Standard Time (PST) is the time zone for Pakistan. ... UTC +5 is the timezone for : Pakistan Standard Time in Pakistan. ... A telephone numbering plan is a plan for allocating telephone number ranges to countries, regions, areas and exchanges and to non-fixed telephone networks such as mobile phone networks. ... Image File history File links Karachi_pronunciation. ... SindhÄ« (سنڌي, सिन्धी) is the language of the Sindh region of South Asia, which is now a province of Pakistan. ... Urdu ( , , trans. ... Currently, Pakistan is subdivided into four provinces, two territories, and also portions of Kashmir that are administered by the Pakistani government. ... Not to be confused with capitol. ... Sindh (SindhÄ«: سنڌ, UrdÅ«: سندھ) is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhis. ...

Karachi was the original capital of Pakistan until the construction of Islamabad, and is the location of Karachi Port, one of the regions largest and busiest ports. The city's population has since increased dramatically after the partition of British India forced hundreds of thousands of Urdu and Gujrati speaking "Mohajirs"(refugees) to settle in the city. Since independence from Britain in 1947, the city's vibrant economy has attracted migrants from all over Pakistan, and beyond. Despite a history of political turmoil, the city continues to attract those seeking prosperity. Location within Pakistan Coordinates: , Country Pakistan Province Constructed 1960s Union Council 40 UC (District Govt. ... Anthem God Save The Queen/King British India, circa 1860 Capital Calcutta (1858-1912), New Delhi (1912-1947) Language(s) Hindi, Urdu, English and many others Government Monarchy Emperor of India  - 1877-1901 Victoria  - 1901-1910 Edward VII  - 1910-1936 George V  - January-December 1936 Edward VIII  - 1936-1947 George... Urdu ( , , trans. ... Gujarati may refer to: The Gujarati language, which is spoken in India mainly ahmedabad. ...

Karachi city is expansive, and is over 3,530 square kilometres (1,363 sq mi) in area. It is locally known as the "City of Lights" (روشنين جو شهر) for its liveliness, and the "City of the Quaid" (شهرِ قائد), having been the birth and burial place of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, who also made the city his home after Pakistan's independence. Square kilometre (U.S. spelling: square kilometer), symbol km², is a decimal multiple of SI unit of surface area square metre, one of the SI derived units. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Muhammad Ali Jinnah (Urdu:  ) (December 25, 1876 – September 11, 1948) was a Muslim politician and leader of the All India Muslim League who founded Pakistan and served as its first Governor-General. ...

Karachi's Founding and Colonial History

Main article: History of Karachi

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

Karachi was founded as "Kolachi" by Baloch tribes from Balochistan and Makran who established a small fishing community in the area ^[5]. Descendants of the original community still live in the area on the small island of Abdullah Goth, which is located near the Karachi Port. The original name "Kolachi" also survives in the name of a well-known Karachi locality named "Mai Kolachi." The history of Karachi prior to the nineteenth century is brief. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Language(s) Balochi Religion(s) Islam Sunni (predominantly) and Zikris around Turbat[17][18] [19] Related ethnic groups Iranian people Especially Pashtuns, Kurds, Laks, Zazas Persians and Mazandaranis The Baloch (بلوچ; alternative transliterations Baluch, Balouch, Bloach,Balooch, Balush, Balosh, Baloosh, Baloush et al. ... This article is about the wider Balochistan region. ... Makran is the southern region of Balochistan, in Iran and Pakistan along the coast of the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman. ...

The city remained a small fishing village until the British seized control of the offshore and strategically located island of Manora. Thereafter, authorities of the British Raj embarked on a large-scale modernization of the city in the 19th century with the intention of establishing a major and modern port which could serve as a gateway to Punjab, the western parts of British India, and Afghanistan. Britain's competition with imperial Russia during the Great Game also heightened the need for a modern port near Central Asia, and so Karachi prospered as a major centre of commerce and industry during the Raj, attracting communities of: Africans, Arabs, Armenians, Goan Catholics, Jews (both Sephardic and Ashkenazi), Lebanese Christians, Malayans, and Zoroastrians - in addition to the large number of British businessmen and colonial administrators who established the city's poshest locales, such as Clifton. Anthem God Save The King-Emperor The British Indian Empire, 1909 Capital Calcutta (1858 - 1912) New Delhi (1912 - 1947) Language(s) Hindustani, English and many others Government Monarchy Emperor of India  - 1858-1901 Victoria¹  - 1901-1910 Edward VII  - 1910-1936 George V  - 1936 Edward VIII  - 1936-1947 George VI Viceroy... Look up Punjab in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Anthem God Save The Queen/King British India, circa 1860 Capital Calcutta (1858-1912), New Delhi (1912-1947) Language(s) Hindi, Urdu, English and many others Government Monarchy Emperor of India  - 1877-1901 Victoria  - 1901-1910 Edward VII  - 1910-1936 George V  - January-December 1936 Edward VIII  - 1936-1947 George... The Great Game is a term, usually attributed to Arthur Connolly, used to describe the rivalry and strategic conflict between the British Empire and the Tsarist Russian Empire for supremacy in Central Asia. ...

British colonialists embarked on a number of public works of sanitation and transportation - such as gravel paved streets, proper drains, street sweepers, and a network of trams and horse-drawn trolleys. Colonial administrators also set up military camps, a European inhabited quarter, and organized marketplaces, of which the Empress Markets are most notable. The city's wealthy elite also endowed the city with a large number of grand edifices, such as the elaborately decorated buildings that house social clubs, known as 'Gymkhanas.' Wealthy businessmen also funded the construction of the Kothwari Parade (a large seaside promenade) and the Frere Hall, in addition to the cinemas, and gambling parlours which dotted the city.

Karachi witnessed relatively few events associated with the Indian movement for independence. Perhaps because of effective colonial administration, the city witnessed only few outbursts of anti-British sentiment in the city, unlike most other major cities in British India, which were often the scene of violence and widespread "civil disobedience." As the movement for Indian independence almost reached its conclusion, the city suffered widespread outbreaks of communal violence between Muslims and Hindus. In response to the perceived threat of Hindu domination, in combination with Sindhi Muslim resentment towards wealthy Sindi Hindus, the province of Sindh became the first province of British India to pass the Pakistan Resolution, in favor of the creation of the Pakistani state. The ensuing turmoil of Partition lead to the expulsion of most of Karachi's wealthy Hindu community. While many poorer Hindus, Christians, and wealthy Zoroastrians remained in the city, Karachi's native Sindhi Hindu community was almost entirely uprooted, and replaced by migrants from India seeking refuge from the anti-Muslim pogroms which were taking place there. Look up partition in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Zoroastrianism was adapted from an earlier, polytheistic faith by Zarathushtra (Zoroaster) in Persia very roughly around 1000 BC (although, in the absence of written records, some scholars estimates are as late as 600 BC). ...

Post-Independence

Upon the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the city was selected by the governing Muslim Leagueto become the national capital of Pakistan, which at the time also included modern day Bangladesh. Karachi was the focus for settlement by refugees from India, who drastically expanded the city's population and transformed the demographics, and economy. Karachi has since faced major infrastructural and socio-economic challenges, but modern industries and businesses have developed in the city, particularly in Korangi, and SITE. Year 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The All India Muslim League (Urdu: مسلم لیگ), founded at Dhaka in 1906, was a political party in British India that developed into the driving force behind the creation of Pakistan as a Muslim state from British India on the Indian subcontinent. ...

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. Krokola was a port located at modern Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. ... For the film of the same name, see Alexander the Great (1956 film). ... Babylonia was a state in southern Mesopotamia, in modern Iraq, combining the territories of Sumer and Akkad. ... The Indus is a river; the Indus River. ... Manora is a small island just outside the port of Karachi, Pakistan. ... The logo of the Karachi Port Trust. ... Nearchus (or Nearchos) was one of the officers in the army of Alexander the Great. ... Barbarikon was the name of a sea port near the modern-day city of Karachi, Pakistan, important in the Hellenistic era in Indian Ocean trade. ... Maximum extent of Indo-Greek territory circa 175 BCE. The Indo-Greeks (or sometimes Greco-Indians) designate a series of Greek kings, who invaded and controlled parts of northwest and northern India from 180 BCE to around 10 BCE. They are the continuation of the Greco-Bactrian dynasty of Greek... Bactria (Bactriana) was the ancient Greek name of the country between the range of the Hindu Kush (Caucasus Indicus) and the Amu Darya (Oxus), with the capital Bactra (now Balkh). ... For other uses, see Arab (disambiguation). ... Debal was a port located at modern Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. ... Muhammad bin Qasim Al-Thaqafi (Arabic: محمد بن قاسم) (c. ... Events Ansprand succeeds Aripert as king of the Lombards. ...

The city was visited by Ottoman Admiral Sidi Ali Reis in 1550s and mentioned in his book Mirat ul Memalik (The Mirror of Countries), 1557 CE ^[6]. The present city started life as a fishing settlement when a Baluchi 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) ^[7]. The location of these gates correspond to the modern areas of Kharadar (Khārā Dar) and Mithadar (Mīṭhā Dar). Look up Ottoman, ottoman in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Events February 7 - Julius III becomes Pope. ... Mai Kolachi (Auntie Kolachi) an old fisherwoman by the name of who settled near the delta of the Indus River to start a community. ... SindhÄ« (سنڌي, सिन्धी) is the language of the Sindh region of South Asia, which is now a province of Pakistan. ... The Arabian Sea (Arabic: بحر العرب; transliterated: Bahr al-Arab) is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui, the north-east point of Somalia... Classification City Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said Area 3,500 km² [1] Population  - Total (2005)  - Density  - Oman calculated rank 606,024 [2] 184. ... Map of the Persian Gulf. ... Lyari River carries the sewerage water of the inhabitant of karachi and drops into Arabian sea. ...

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!". 1795 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Language(s) Balochi Religion(s) Islam Sunni (predominantly) and Zikris around Turbat[17][18] [19] Related ethnic groups Iranian people Especially Pashtuns, Kurds, Laks, Zazas Persians and Mazandaranis The Baloch (بلوچ; alternative transliterations Baluch, Balouch, Bloach,Balooch, Balush, Balosh, Baloosh, Baloush et al. ... Talpur is a Baloch tribe that conquered and ruled Sindh, and other parts of Pakistan, from 1783 to 1843 AD. Talpur army defeated Kalhora dynasty in the battle of Halani in 1783 to became rulers of Sindh. ... The British East India Company, sometimes referred to as John Company, was the first joint-stock company (the Dutch East India Company was the first to issue public stock). ... The British Raj is an informal term for the period of British rule of most of the Indian subcontinent, or present-day India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka (previously known as Ceylon). ... Sindh (Sindhī: سنڌ, Urdū: سندھ) is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhis. ... General Sir Charles James Napier General Sir Charles James Napier GCB (August 10, 1782 – August 29, 1853) was a British general and Commander-in-Chief in India. ...

Karachi was made the capital of Sindh 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. Bombay Presidency was a former province of British India. ... ‹ The template below (Citations missing) is being considered for deletion. ...

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. Belligerents Rebellious East India Company Sepoys, 7 Indian princely states, deposed rulers of the independent states of Oudh, Jhansi Some Indian civilians. ... is the 253rd day of the year (254th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

An old image of Karachi from 1889

In 1864, the first telegraphic message was sent from India to England when a direct telegraph connection was laid between Karachi and London.^[8] 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.^{[citation needed]} The population of the city was about 105,000 inhabitants by the end of the 19th century, with 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. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (900x615, 96 KB) An old view of the Karachi city, dating 1889. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (900x615, 96 KB) An old view of the Karachi city, dating 1889. ... Frere Hall - a beautiful structure built during the days of the British Raj Frere Hall is one of the few well-preserved buildings from the days of the British Raj that still exists in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. ... Empress Market circa 1995 Empress Market is located in Saddar Town of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. ... Muhammad Ali Jinnah (Urdu:  ) (December 25, 1876 – September 11, 1948) was a Muslim politician and leader of the All India Muslim League who founded Pakistan and served as its first Governor-General. ... ‹ The template below has been proposed for deletion. ... a person from Pars (the middle-Persian word for Fars), a region now within the geographical boundaries of Iran, and is roughly the original homeland of the Persian people. ... Goa (गोवा) is Indias smallest state in terms of area and the fourth smallest in terms of population after Sikkim, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh. ... This article refers to public transport vehicles running on rails. ...

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. This article is under construction. ...   (Urdu: راولپنڈی RāwalpindÄ«) is a city in the Potwar Plateau near Pakistans capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. ... Location within Pakistan Coordinates: , Country Pakistan Province Constructed 1960s Union Council 40 UC (District Govt. ... Belligerents DRA USSR Mujahideen of Afghanistan Commanders Soviet 40th Army: Sergei Sokolov Valentin Varennikov Boris Gromov DRA: Babrak Karmal Mohammad Najibullah Abdul Rashid Dostum Abdul Haq Jalaluddin Haqqani Gulbuddin Hekmatyar Ismail Khan Ahmad Shah Massoud Strength Soviet forces: 80,000-104,000 Afghan forces: 329,000 (in 1989)[1] 45...

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.^{[citation needed]} The current economic boom in Pakistan has also resulted in a new period of resurgence in the economy of Karachi. GDP is an acronym which can stand for more than one thing: (in economics) an abbreviation for Gross Domestic Product. ...

Geography and climate

Main article: Climate of Karachi

Satellite view of Karachi

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, locally known as Raas Muari, an area marked with projecting sea cliffs and rocky sandstone promontories. Some excellent beaches can also be found in this area. Karachi is located on the coast and as a result has a relatively mild climate. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (633x639, 414 KB) Summary Satellites image by NASA public domain. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (633x639, 414 KB) Summary Satellites image by NASA public domain. ... -1... Malir River (Urdu:دریائے ملير ) is located in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. ... Lyari River (Urdu:دریائے لیاری) is located in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. ... The logo of the Karachi Port Trust. ... Manora is a small island just outside the port of Karachi, Pakistan. ... Cape Monze is a beach on the Arabian Sea located near the Hub River and Gadani Beach in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. ...

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).^[9] For other uses, see Monsoon (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Celsius (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Fahrenheit (disambiguation). ...

Government

Main articles: City District Government of Karachi, List of mayors of Karachi, and List of Union Councils of Karachi

Karachi at night

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).^[10] City District Government of Karachi (CDGK), formerly Karachi Metropolitan Corporation is responsible for the administration of Karachi, Pakistans largest city. ... Karachi City Municipal Act was promulgated in 1933. ... Union Councils of Karachi are local governments in Karachi. ... Image File history File links Karachi_at_night. ... Image File history File links Karachi_at_night. ... Government of Pakistan (Urdu: حکومتِ پاکستان)The Constitution of Pakistan provides for a Federal Parliamentary System of government, with a President as the Head of State and an indirectly-elected Prime Minister as the chief executive. ... The Divisions of Pakistan were previously the third tier of government in Pakistan until they were abolished in 2000. ... Union Council Union Council is a sub part of a district, usually it is a large village also including the nearby small villages. ...

Karachi Municipal Corporation office building

• Malir Town
• Shah Faisal Town
• Landhi Town
• Korangi Town
• Bin Qasim Town
• Gadap Town
• Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town
• Jamshed Town
• Gulberg Town
• Liaquatabad Town
• North Nazimabad Town
• New Karachi Town
• Orangi Town
• Baldia Town
• SITE town
• Lyari Town
• Saddar Town
• Keamari Town

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).^[10] 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. Malir Town is a small densely populated town in the eastern part of Karachi, with Jinnah International Airport and the Malir Cantonment to the west and north, the Malir River and Shah Faisal Town to the south and Gadap Town to the east across the Thado Nallo stream. ... Shah Faisal Town is one of the towns in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. ... Landhi Town is a large industrial town in the eastern part of Karachi, Pakistan. ... Korangi Town is a town in the eastern parts of Karachi, Pakistan, south of the Malir River. ... Bin Qasim Town is one of the towns in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. ... Gadap Town is one of the towns in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. ... Jamshed Town is one of the towns in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. ... Gulberg town is one of the different adminsitartive divisions of the city government of Karachi. ... Liaquatabad Town is a town in the central part of Karachi, Pakistan named after Liaquat Ali Khan, the first Prime Minister of Pakistan. ... North Nazimabad Town is one of the neighborhoods of North Nazimabad Town in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. ... New Karachi Town is a small densely populated town in the northern part of Karachi, located between the Lyari River, the Manghopir Hills and two major roads - Surjani Road to the north and Shahrah-e-Zahid Hussain to the south. ... Orangi Town is a small densely populated town in the northwestern part of Karachi, bordered by New Karachi Town to the north across the Shahrah-e-Zahid Hussain, Gulberg Town to the east across the Gujar Nala stream, Liaquatabad Town to the south, and SITE Town to the west. ... Baldia Town is a town located in the western part of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan with a population of more than 400,000 at the 1998 census. ... Lyari Town is the smallest town by area in the city of Karachi, but also the most densely populated town. ... Saddar is one of the neighborhoods of Saddar Town in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. ... Nazim (Urdu: ناظم ) is the Coordinator of cities and towns in Pakistan. ... A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning larger, greater) is the modern title of the highest ranking municipal officer. ... The Deputy Mayor of a community is the number two official to the mayor. ...

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. Mustafa Kamal is advancing the development trail 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. These cantonment have a very little population but covers a very large area (about 40% of the total area of Karachi) & most expensive land of Karachi. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Niamthullah Khan, (born October 1, 1930 Ajmer, British India) was the Nazim of largest city of Pakistan, Karachi from August 2001-June 2005. ... Nasreen Jalil (22 February 1947 in Lahore) is the currently the Naib Nazim of the city of Karachi, Pakistan. ... Information and communication technology spending in 2005 Information Technology (IT), as defined by the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), is the study, design, development, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer hardware. ... A cantonment is a temporary or semi-permanent military quarters, typically in South India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. ... The Pakistan Army (Urdu: پاک فوج) is the largest branch of the Pakistan military, and is mainly responsible for protection of the state borders, the security of administered territories and defending the national interests of Pakistan within the framework of its international obligations. ...

• Karachi Cantonment
• Clifton Cantonment
• Faisal Cantonment
• Malir Cantonment
• Korangi Creek Cantonment
• Manora Cantonment

The Faisal Cantonment is a cantonment town of the city of Karachi, in Sindh, Pakistan. ... The Malir Cantonment is a cantonment town of the city of Karachi, in Sindh, Pakistan. ...

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Karachi

Trend of population growth (in millions) in Karachi

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 10 million^{[not in citation given][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] Trend of population growth (in millions) in Karachi Karachi is the largest city and also the most popular city in Pakistan. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Net migration rates for 2006: positive (blue), negative (orange) and stable (green). ...

Before 1947, Karachi had large Sindhi communities of Parsis, Jews, Armenians, Hindus, Christians, Balochis and Gujaratis. After independence, a large number of Sindhi Hindus left the city for India and were replaced by Indian refugees. The Indian refugees migrated from different parts of India. Currently, the native Sindhis and continuing migration from different parts of Pakistan and India have contributed to a very cosmopolitan mix of residents. Year 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the Parsi community. ... The Armenians are a nation and an ethnic group, originating in the Caucasus and eastern Asia Minor. ... This article discusses the adherents of Hinduism. ... For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). ... Language(s) Balochi Religion(s) Islam Sunni (predominantly) and Zikris around Turbat[17][18] [19] Related ethnic groups Iranian people Especially Pashtuns, Kurds, Laks, Zazas Persians and Mazandaranis The Baloch (بلوچ; alternative transliterations Baluch, Balouch, Bloach,Balooch, Balush, Balosh, Baloosh, Baloush et al. ... Languages Gujarati Religions Hinduism, Islam, Zoroastrianism (see Parsis), Jainism, Christianity Gujarati people (Gujarati: ગુજરાતી લોકો Gujǎrātī loko), or Gujaratis, is an umbrella term used to describe traditionally Gujarati-speaking Indo-Aryan people who can trace their ancestry to the Gujarat region in India. ...

The new government allotted much of the property left by the departing Sindhis to the Indian refugees. However, the Indian refugees also formed the political minorty in the city, which gave them substantial political clout, to the native Sindhi inhabitants.

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 and half million and comprise a number of ethnic groups: Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, Uzbeks, Nuristani and Turkmen. Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... Belligerents DRA USSR Mujahideen of Afghanistan Commanders Soviet 40th Army: Sergei Sokolov Valentin Varennikov Boris Gromov DRA: Babrak Karmal Mohammad Najibullah Abdul Rashid Dostum Abdul Haq Jalaluddin Haqqani Gulbuddin Hekmatyar Ismail Khan Ahmad Shah Massoud Strength Soviet forces: 80,000-104,000 Afghan forces: 329,000 (in 1989)[1] 45... Language(s) Pashto Religion(s) Islam (predominantly Sunni) Pashtuns (Pashto: پشتون or پختون , also rendered as Pushtuns, Pakhtuns, Pukhtuns), also called Pathans (Urdu: پٹھان, Hindi: पठान ), ethnic Afghans,[10] or synonymously Afghans[11] (Persian: افغان ), are an Eastern Iranian ethno-linguistic group with populations primarily in eastern and southern Afghanistan and in the North-West... Languages Persian Religions Islam (predominantly Sunni (Hanafi), with Shia (Twelver and Ismaili) minorities) Tājik (Persian: ; UniPers: Tâjik; Tajik: ) is a term generally applied to Persian-speaking peoples of Iranian origin living east and northeast of present-day Iran. ... Language(s) Hazaragi/Dari (Hazaragi and Dari dialects) Religion(s) Shia, some Sunni Related ethnic groups Mongol, Turkic, Iranian The Hazara are an ethnic group who reside mainly in the central region of Afghanistan, called Hazarajat or Hazaristan. ... The Nuristani are a religious/ethnic group in the Nurestan Province of Afghanistan. ...

The current estimated linguistic distribution of the city is: Urdu: 44.52%; Sindhi: 18.38%;Punjabi: 11.25%; Pashto: 14.59%; Balochi: 4.34%; Saraiki: 2.11%; others: 4.81%. The others include Dari, Gujarati, Dawoodi Bohra, Memon, Marwari, Brahui, Makrani, Khowar, Burushaski, Arabic, Persian and Bengali.^[15] Urdu ( , , trans. ... SindhÄ« (سنڌي, सिन्धी) is the language of the Sindh region of South Asia, which is now a province of Pakistan. ... Punjabi redirects here. ... Pashto (‎, IPA: , also rendered as Pakhto, Pushto, Pukhto ‎, Pashtoe, Pashtu, Pushtu, Pathani or Pushtoo and also known as Afghan language[4][5]) is an Iranian language spoken by Pashtuns living in Afghanistan and Pakistan[6]. // Geographic distribution of Pashto (purple) and other Iranian languages Pashto is spoken by about 30... Balochi (also Baluchi, Baloci or Baluci) is a Northwestern Iranian language. ... ... Dari is a term used to denote one of several closely related Persian dialects spoken in what used to be Greater Khorasan: The official name for the Persian language in Afghanistan; see Dari (Afghanistan) One name used by Zoroastrians (the others being Gabri and Yazdi) to refer to the Northwestern... Gujarati (ગુજરાતી GujÇŽrātÄ«; also known as Gujerati, Gujarathi, Guzratee, and Guujaratee[3]) is an Indo-Aryan language descending from Sanskrit, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. ... Dawoodi Bohras are the main branch of the Bohras (a Mustali subsect of Ismaili Shia Muslims) based primarily in India and Pakistan. ... Memon (Gujarati: ; Sindhi: ; Hindi: ; Urdu: ) a minority social group primarily connected with the Indian sub-continent trace their roots largely to Sindh, Kutch and Kathiawar. ... Marwari may refer to: Marwari Site, Connecting Marwaris :TheMarwari. ... The Brahui (بروہی) or Bravi (براوِ) language, spoken by the Brahui, is mainly spoken in Balochistan, Pakistan, although it is also spoken in Afghanistan and Iran. ... Khowar is classified as a Dardic Language. ... Burushaski is a language isolate spoken by some 87,000 (as of 2000) Burusho people in the Hunza, Nagar, Yasin, and parts of the Gilgit valleys in northern Pakistan and Kashmir. ... Arabic redirects here. ... Farsi redirects here. ... Bangla redirects here. ...

The religious breakup of the city is as follows: Muslim: 94.50%; Hindu: 5.35%; Christian: 1.9%; Ahmadi: 0.17%; others 0.13%. The others include Parsis, Jews, Orthodox and Buddhists^[16][17] There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: مسلمان, Turkish: Müslüman, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ... This article discusses the adherents of Hinduism. ... For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). ... This article is about the Ahmadiyya branch of Islam founded by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. ... This article is about the Parsi community. ... in Christianity: Eastern Christianity Oriental Orthodoxy Orthodox Christianity Orthodoxy by country in Judaism: Orthodox Judaism Modern Orthodox Judaism Jewish organisations: Orthodox Union Categories: ... A replica of an ancient statue found among the ruins of a temple at Sarnath Buddhism is a philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, a prince of the Shakyas, whose lifetime is traditionally given as 566 to 486 BCE. It had subsequently been accepted by...

Economy

Main article: Economy of Karachi

A part of Karachi's financial district

MCB Tower

Habib Bank Plaza

Karachi is the financial and commercial capital of Pakistan; it accounts for a lion's share of Pakistan's revenue generation. It generates over 65% of the total national revenue (federal and provincial taxes, customs and surcharges), Although a larger part of this amount account for as indirect tax contribution.^[18] Karachi produces about 42 percent of value added in large scale manufacturing and 25% of the GDP of Pakistan. In February 2007, the World Bank identified Karachi as the most business-friendly city in Pakistan.^[19] View of the I.I.Chundrigar Rd skyline, heart of the financial district of Karachi Karachi is the financial capital of Pakistan. ... Image File history File links KarachiFinancial. ... Image File history File links KarachiFinancial. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... The World Bank logo The World Bank (the Bank) is a part of the World Bank Group (WBG), is a bank that makes loans to developing countries for development programs with the stated goal of reducing poverty. ...

Karachi is the nerve centre of Pakistan's economy. The economic stagnation due to political anarchy, ethnic strife and resulted military operation during late 80s and 90s led to efflux of industry from Karachi. Despite this severe shock, Karachi claims highest per capita income in South Asia, with a GDP per capita greater than $8,000 today. However, the distribution of this figure is highly disputed due to rampant corruption and wealth disparity.

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] Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar Road or I. I. Chundrigar Road is the main business street in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. ... multinational corporation (or transnational corporation) (MNC/TNC) is a corporation or enterprise that manages production establishments or delivers services in at least two countries. ... The Karachi Stock Exchange or KSE is a stock exchange located in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. ... Short name Statistics Location map Map of location of Seoul. ...

Recently, Karachi has seen an expansion of