Pakistan the Land of Beauty

Karachi

Karachi is the provincial capital of Sindh province, the largest city in Pakistan and the largest port of the country. It is located north west of Indus River Delta on the Arabian Sea.

Spreading over 3500 square kilometers along with its suburbs, Karachi is the second most populated city in the world.

The present city is said to have started its life as a fishing settlement where a Sindhi fisherwoman “Mai Kolachi” took up residence and started a family. The later grown out village was known as Kolachi-jo-Goth (The Village of Kolachi in Sindh). The town was conquered by British East India Company in February 1839. Charles Napier conquered Sindh in 1843 and the village Kalochi was added along with the rest of Sindh and annexed to British Indian Empire under the jurisdiction of Bombay Presidency.

Karachi was known as Khurachee Scinde (i.e. Karachi, Sindh) during the early British colonial rule.

Realizing the importance as military cantonment the British developed a harbour for shipping.

New businesses started opening up and the population of the town started rising rapidly. By 1914, Karachi had become from the Bombay Presidency and Karachi was made the capital of the new province.

By the time Pakistan was formed in 1947, Karachi had become a metropolitan city with railway, churches, mosques, markets and big buildings. Soon after the independence, Karachi was
chosen to be the capital of Pakistan but the capital later shifted to Islamabad during the reign of
President Ayub Khan.

As Pakistan’s economic capital, its leading economic sectors include finance, business services, transportation, media, television production, publishing and software production.

Major attractions

Mazar-e-Quaid

Mazar-e-Quaid/the tomb of the founder of Pakistan Mohammad Ali Jinnah is an iconic symbol of Karachi. The mausoleum is situated at the heart of the city.

The glowing tomb can be seen from miles at night. Official and military ceremonies take place here on special occasions.

Mohatta Palace

Mohatta Palace located in Karachi was built by an ambitious Hindu businessman “Shivratan Chandraratan” in the late 1920s. He built the Palace using pink stone in combination with the local yellow stone from Gizri. The palace has an area of 18,500 sq. feet and there are nine domes, with a centre doom in the middle.

After Mohatta’s departure to India, the Government of Pakistan used it for the offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but soon it was handed over to Fatima Jinnah. In the ’60s Mohatta Palace was dubbed
Qasre-e-Fatima and currently it houses a museum which houses exhibition showcasing the old history of Sindh Province and its capital Karachi.

Masjid-e-Tooba

Tooba Mosque , locally known as ‘Gole Masjid’ was built in 1969 in Defense Housing Society. The mosque has been built with pure white marble. It is located by the main Korangi Road. Masjid e Tooba is claimed to be the largest single dome mosque in the world. The dome of the mosque is 72 meters (236 feet) in diameter, and is balanced on a low surrounding wall without any central pillars. It is also a major tourist attraction in Karachi. The central prayer hall has a capacity of 5,000 people. It has been built keeping acoustics in mind. A person speaking inside one end of the dome can be heard at the other end
.

Clifton Beach

Clifton Beach is located on the Arabian Sea in the neighborhoods of Saddar Town. The beach itself including beachside horse and camel rides, amusement parks and swimming in the Arabian Sea has lots of attractions for families and tourists.

PAF Museum

PAF Museum is Pak Air Force Museum and park which is situated between PAF Base Faisal and
Awami Markaz on main Shahra-e-Faisal at Karachi.

The museum is open throughout the year for seven days a week. Pakistan Air Force Museum is known for its well organized displays of all major fighter aircraft that have been used by the Pakistan Air Force. The museum also houses the aircraft used by Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah founder of Pakistan.

Outside in the park many aircrafts along with photo and weapon galleries are also on display. Miniature jet models, shirts and other Air Force related merchandise are available in the souvenir shops there.

Agha Khan University

The Aga Khan University (AKU), founded by His Highness the Agha Khan, is a coeducational research university in Karachi Pakistan. It was granted its charter in 1983 as Pakistan’s first private, autonomous university. It is part of the Agha Khan Development Network which has campuses on three continents with its principal campus in the metropolitan city of Karachi.

Other prominent sites of Karachi:

  • Lady Lloyd pier at Bin Qasim park
  • Karachi Port Authority’s Water Jet fountain
  • Beach Park
  • Jehangir Kothari Parade.
  • Hawke's Bay, a breeding ground for an endangered species of turtles.
  • Paradise Point.
  • Sandspit Beach.
  • French Beach.
  • Karachi Expo Centre.
  • Pakistan Maitime Museum
  • WWF Waterland center at Sandspit.
    • Colonial Buildings

Merewether Tower, National Academy of Performing Arts, Frere Hall, Empress Market and Sindh Highcourt

    • Islands

Churma Island, Bhit Shah Island, Clifton Oyster Rocks, Buddo Island, Bundal Island and Manora Islanad

    • Amusement Parks

Hill Park, Safari Park, Sindbad Amusement Park and Aladdin Amusement Park.