Karachi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Karachi ڪراچي‎ کراچی
Megacity
Mazar-e-Quaid Dolmen City KMC Building Mohatta Palace Frere Hall Karachi Port Trust Building
Nicknames:  City of the Quaid, Paris of the East, City of Lights, Bride of the Cities
Karachi Location in Karachi Show map of Karachi Karachi Location in Pakistan Show map of Pakistan Karachi Location in Asia Show map of Asia Karachi Location in Earth Show map of Earth
Country	Pakistan
Province	Sindh
Division	Karachi Division
Settled	1729
Metropolitan council	1880; 145 years ago (1880)
City council	City Complex, Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town
Districts	7 Central Karachi East Karachi South Karachi West Karachi Korangi Malir Kemari
Government
• Type	Metropolitan Corporation
• Body	Government of Karachi
Area
• Metro	3,527 km2 (1,362 sq mi)
Area rank	1st
Elevation	10 m (30 ft)
Population  (2023)
• Megacity	20,382,881
• Rank	1st (Pakistan) 12th (world)
• Metro density	5,779/km2 (14,970/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Karachiite
Time zone	UTC+05:00 (PKT)
Postal codes	74XXX–75XXX
Dialling code	021
GDP/PPP	$200 billion (2021)
International airport	Jinnah International (KHI)
Rapid transit system	Karachi Breeze
Largest district by area	Malir District (2,160 km2)
Largest district by population (2023 census)	Karachi East (3,950,031)
Densest district by population (2023 census)	Karachi Central (55,396/km2)
Largest area by GDP (2020)	Saddar Town ($40 billion)

Karachi (/kəˈrɑːtʃi/; Urdu: کراچی; Sindhi: ڪراچي‎; IPA: [kəˈraːtʃi]) is the capital city of the Pakistani province of Sindh. It is the largest city in Pakistan and the 12th largest in the world. Over 20 million people live here.

Karachi is located at the southern tip of Pakistan, right on the coast of the Arabian Sea. It used to be the capital of Pakistan. Today, it is Pakistan's main industrial and financial hub. It is also known as a "beta-global city," which means it's an important city for the world's economy.

Karachi is a very diverse city. People from many different language groups, ethnic backgrounds, and religions live here. It is also known as one of Pakistan's most modern and open-minded cities.

The area has been lived in for thousands of years. However, the city itself was officially started as a small, strong village called Kolachi in 1729. It grew a lot when the East India Company arrived in the mid-1800s. British leaders worked hard to make it a major seaport and connect it to the large railway system of the Indian subcontinent.

When Pakistan became independent in 1947, Karachi was the biggest city in Sindh. About 400,000 people lived there. After independence, many Muslim immigrants from India moved to Karachi. At the same time, most of its Hindu residents left. The city grew very quickly, attracting people from all over Pakistan and other parts of South Asia. In 2023, Karachi's population was over 20 million. It is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. It has large communities from almost every ethnic group in Pakistan.

Karachi is Pakistan's top industrial and financial center. Its economy is worth about $190 billion. Karachi collects 35% of Pakistan's tax money and creates about 25% of Pakistan's total GDP. About 30% of Pakistan's industrial goods come from Karachi. Its ports handle about 95% of Pakistan's international trade. Most big international companies and all banks in Pakistan have their main offices in Karachi.

The city is also a major transport hub. It has Pakistan's two biggest seaports, the Port of Karachi and Port Qasim. It also has Pakistan's busiest airport, Jinnah International Airport. Karachi is also seen as Pakistan's fashion capital. It has hosted the annual Karachi Fashion Week since 2009.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Karachi was called the "City of Lights" because of its lively nightlife. Later, it faced some challenges, but things have improved a lot. It used to be ranked as one of the most dangerous cities for crime in 2014, but by 2022, it had become much safer.

What's in a Name? The Story of Karachi's Name

Modern Karachi is believed to have started in 1729 as a settlement called Kolachi-jo-Goth. This was during the time of the Kalhora dynasty. The story says it was named after Mai Kolachi. Her son supposedly killed a crocodile that had eaten his older brothers.

The name Karachee was first used in a Dutch report in 1742. It was a shorter version of Kolachi-jo-Goth. The report was about a shipwreck near the settlement.

A Look Back: Karachi's History

Ancient Times: Early Settlements

The area around Karachi has been home to people for thousands of years. Tools from the Stone Age have been found in the Mulri Hills on the northern edge of Karachi. These early people were likely hunter-gatherers.

Ancient Greeks might have known this region. It could have been the site of Barbarikon, an old seaport near the mouth of the Indus River. Some old Greek writings might have called Karachi Ramya.

The ancient port of Krokola might also have been near Karachi. This was a natural harbor where Alexander the Great sailed his fleet. Other old writings mention islands near Karachi that match descriptions of Manora Point and Kiamari. These areas were islands until they connected to the mainland much later.

In 711 CE, Muhammad bin Qasim took over the Sindh and Indus Valley. He launched his forces from the port of Debal. Some people think Debal was located where Karachi is now.

Later, under Mirza Ghazi Beg, the Mughal ruler of Sindh, the coastal area grew. Forts were built to protect against Portuguese attacks. An Ottoman admiral, Seydi Ali Reis, mentioned a small port called Kaurashi in 1553–54, which might have been Karachi. The Chaukhandi tombs in Karachi's suburbs were built around this time.

The First Port and Kolachi Village

The first port near Karachi was set up by the Kalhoras in the mid-1700s. It was called Kharak Bander. An old historian, Seth Naomal Hotchand, wrote that a small village of 20-25 huts existed near Karachi Harbour. It was called Dibro.

In 1725, some Baloch settlers came to the village. They were escaping droughts and tribal fights. A new settlement was built in 1729 at Dibro. It was named Kolachi-jo-Goth ("The village of Kolachi"). The story says it was named after Mai Kolachi, whose son killed a man-eating crocodile.

Kolachi was about 40 hectares in size. It had smaller fishing villages nearby. The new settlement was protected by walls and cannons from Muscat, Oman. A road called Rah-i-Bandar was built to connect the port to trade routes. This road later became Muhammad Ali Jinnah Road.

The name Karachee appeared in a Dutch document in 1742. In the 1770s, Karachi came under the control of the Khan of Kalat. This brought more Baloch settlers. In 1795, the Talpurs took over Karachi. They built the Manora Fort in 1797 to protect the harbor from pirates.

In 1799 or 1800, the East India Company was allowed to set up a trading post in Karachi. However, by 1802, they were told to leave. The Talpurs ruled Karachi until the British took it over in February 1839.

British Rule: A Growing City

The British East India Company captured Karachi on February 3, 1839. Their ship, HMS Wellesley, quickly destroyed Manora Fort. At that time, Karachi had about 8,000 to 14,000 people. It was mostly within a walled city. British soldiers set up a camp east of the city, which became the Karachi Cantonment.

In 1840, Karachi became the capital of Sindh. This happened after Major General Charles James Napier captured the rest of Sindh. In 1846, a large cholera outbreak led to the creation of the Karachi Cholera Board.

The city grew under Commissioner Henry Bartle Edward Frere in the 1850s. The British saw Karachi's importance and built the Port of Karachi in 1854. Karachi quickly became a transport hub for British India. This was thanks to the new port and railway, and more farm exports from Punjab and Sindh. By 1856, trade through Karachi was worth over £855,000.

During the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, some soldiers in Karachi rebelled. But the British quickly defeated them. After the rebellion, the British kept improving the city's infrastructure. However, they often ignored areas like Lyari, where the original fishermen and nomads lived.

When the American Civil War started, Karachi's port became important for exporting cotton to England. Many people from different backgrounds, like British, Parsis, and Goan Christians, moved to Karachi for work. They set up businesses in the new commercial area of Saddar. Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who founded Pakistan, was born in Karachi in 1876.

Public buildings were built in Gothic and Indo-Saracenic styles. Examples include Frere Hall (1865) and Empress Market (1889).

With the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, Karachi's importance as a port grew even more. In 1878, the British connected Karachi to India's large railway system. By 1899, Karachi was the biggest wheat-exporting port in the East. In 1901, Karachi's population was 117,000.

The city's local government was set up under the British. Mayor Seth Harchandrai Vishandas improved sanitation and built new infrastructure. In 1914, Karachi became the largest wheat-exporting port in the entire British Empire. By 1924, the Drigh Road Aerodrome was built, which is now the Faisal Air Force Base.

Karachi's growing importance meant more non-Sindhi people came to work in Sindh's government. By 1921, half the city's population was born outside Karachi. This made native Sindhis unhappy. So, on April 1, 1936, Sindh became a separate province, and Karachi was again made its capital. By 1941, the city's population had reached 387,000.

After Independence: A New Chapter

When Pakistan became independent in 1947, Karachi was the largest city in Sindh. It had over 400,000 people. The city had a small Hindu majority. After the partition of India, many Hindus left Karachi for India. At the same time, many Muslim immigrants from India moved to Karachi. By May 1948, there were 470,000 refugees in Karachi. This greatly changed the city's population. In 1941, Muslims were 42% of Karachi's population, but by 1951, they were 96%. The city's population tripled between 1941 and 1951. Urdu became the most spoken language, replacing Sindhi.

Karachi was chosen as the first capital of Pakistan. It was managed as a separate federal district from Sindh starting in 1948. This lasted until the capital moved to Rawalpindi in 1958.

In the 1960s, Karachi was seen as a great example of economic growth around the world. Cities like Seoul, South Korea, even learned from Karachi's development plans. Many modern buildings were built during this time, like the Mazar-e-Quaid mausoleum and the Habib Bank Plaza. By 1961, the city's population had grown by 369% compared to 1941. In the mid-1960s, many Pashtun, Punjabis, and Kashmiris from northern Pakistan moved to Karachi.

The 1970s saw a building boom. More apartment buildings appeared. Property prices went up, leading to housing problems. This period also saw worker protests in Karachi's factories. These were put down by the government.

In the 1980s and 1990s, almost a million Afghan refugees came to Karachi. They were fleeing the Soviet–Afghan War. This was followed by refugees from post-revolution Iran. During this time, Karachi also faced political problems. Crime rates went up because of weapons from the war in Afghanistan.

In 1996, two more districts were created in Karachi: Central and Malir.

In the 2010s, hundreds of thousands of Pashtun refugees came to Karachi. They were escaping conflict in North-West Pakistan and the 2010 Pakistan floods. By this time, Karachi was known for high crime rates. However, crimes sharply decreased after a special operation started in 2013. As a result, Karachi went from being the 6th most dangerous city in 2014 to 128th by 2022.

In 2022, at least one million people affected by floods from Sindh and Balochistan found safety in Karachi.

Karachi's Location and Landscape

Karachi is on the coast of Sindh province in southern Pakistan. It sits on the Karachi Harbour, a natural harbor on the Arabian Sea. The city is built on a flat coastal area with some rocky hills and marshlands.

Mangrove forests grow in the salty water around Karachi Harbour. West of the city is Cape Monze, an area with sea cliffs and beaches.

Karachi is close to a major fault line where two of Earth's plates meet. However, it is on the edge of one of these plates. Inside Karachi, there are two small hill ranges: the Khasa Hills and Mulri Hills. These hills are dry and are part of the larger Kirthar Range. Their highest point is about 528 meters (1,732 feet).

Between the hills are wide plains with dry riverbeds. Karachi has grown around the Malir River and Lyari Rivers. The area where the Lyari River meets the sea was the site of the original Kolachi settlement. East of Karachi are the flat plains of the Indus River.

Karachi's Weather: Hot Summers and Mild Winters

Karachi has a tropical semi arid climate. This means it has a long, hot summer. The Arabian Sea helps to keep temperatures a bit cooler than other parts of Sindh.

The city gets about 296 mm (11.7 inches) of rain each year. Most of this rain falls during the monsoon season from late June to September. Summers are hot and humid. Karachi can have dangerous heatwaves. Over the last 20 years, it has rained more often. Tropical storms and floods are becoming more common, especially during the summer monsoon.

Cool sea breezes usually provide some relief during the hot summer months. A text message system warns people about strong heatwaves or thunderstorms. This helps prevent deaths.

Winters are dry and pleasant, lasting from December to February. The warm season starts in March and lasts until October. Because it's close to the sea, the air is humid all year round.

The most rain in one year was about 750-850 mm (30-33 inches) in the late 1970s. The most rain in one month was 19 inches in July 1967. The most rain in 24 hours was 278.1 mm (10.95 inches) on August 7, 1953, which caused big floods.

Karachi's highest recorded temperature was 48.0°C (118.4°F) on April 22 and 23, 2017. The lowest was 0°C (32°F) on January 21, 1934.

City Layout: Old Town vs. New Town

Karachi first grew around its harbor. The city's oldest part, Mithadar, shows how small Kolachi was before the British arrived.

British Karachi was split into the "New Town" and "Old Town." The British mostly invested in the New Town. The Old Town was not well-planned. It had most of the local residents but lacked proper sewers, electricity, and water. The New Town had areas for homes, businesses, and the military. The Karachi Cantonment was a military base built by the British.

Before Pakistan's independence, the city mostly grew north of the Chinna Creek. However, the seaside area of Clifton was also developed as a fancy neighborhood. Its large houses are still some of the most desired properties. These old areas have Karachi's most important buildings. I. I. Chundrigar Road is home to most of Pakistan's banks.

Northwest of the old city is the large district of Orangi. North of the old city are the middle-class Nazimabad and upper-middle-class North Nazimabad, built in the 1950s. East of the old city is Defence, a large, fancy suburb managed by the Pakistan Army.

Karachi also includes several islands like Baba and Bhit Islands and Oyster Rocks. Manora used to be an island but is now connected to the mainland by a thin strip of land called Sandspit. Areas like Gulistan-e-Johar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Federal B. Area, Malir, Landhi, and Korangi were all developed after 1970.

The city is often described as having two parts: planned areas with good services for those who can afford them, and unplanned communities with fewer services. About 35% of Karachi's residents live in these unplanned areas.

Karachi's Economy: A Busy Hub

As Pakistan's largest city, Karachi is also its financial and business capital. Since Pakistan became independent, Karachi has been the center of the country's economy. It remains Pakistan's biggest city economy.

In 2021, Karachi's economy was estimated to be worth $190 billion. It grows by 5.5% each year. Karachi contributes 90% of Sindh's economy and about 25% of Pakistan's total economy. The city also has a large informal economy, which is not usually counted in these numbers. This informal economy might make up to 36% of Pakistan's total economy. It employs up to 70% of the city's workers.

In 2018, a report ranked Karachi's economy as the best-performing city economy in Pakistan. Karachi is also ranked among the top cities in the world for growth in what people spend. Its market is expected to grow by 6.6% in 2018. It is also expected to have 1.3 million more households with an income over $20,000 by 2025.

Money and Banks

Most of Pakistan's banks have their main offices on Karachi's I. I. Chundrigar Road. This road is known as "Pakistan's Wall Street." A large part of Pakistan's money flow happens here. Most big international companies in Pakistan have their main offices in Karachi.

Karachi is also home to the Pakistan Stock Exchange. In 2015, it was named Asia's best-performing stock market.

Media and Technology

Karachi was a pioneer in cable TV in Pakistan. It has very advanced cable networks. The city has also seen a big growth in information and communications technology and electronic media. It has become a hub for software outsourcing in Pakistan. Many independent TV and radio stations are based in Karachi.

Industries in Karachi

Industry makes up a big part of Karachi's economy. The city has many of Pakistan's largest companies. These companies work with textiles, cement, steel, heavy machinery, chemicals, and food products. About 30% of Pakistan's manufacturing comes from Karachi. It produces about 42% of Pakistan's value in large-scale manufacturing. There are at least 4,500 official factories in Karachi. The unofficial manufacturing sector employs many more people. About 63% of Karachi's workers are in trade and manufacturing.

Large industrial areas in Karachi include Karachi Export Processing Zone, SITE, Korangi, Northern Bypass Industrial Zone, Bin Qasim, and North Karachi. The Karachi Expo Centre also helps the economy by hosting big exhibitions.

Name of estate	Location	Established	Area in acres
SITE Karachi	SITE Town	1947	4700
Korangi Industrial Area	Korangi Town	1960	8500
Landhi Industrial Area	Landhi Town	1949	11000
North Karachi Industrial Area	New Karachi Town	1974	725
Federal B Industrial Area	Gulberg Town	1987
Korangi Creek Industrial Park	Korangi Creek Cantonment	2012	250
Bin Qasim Industrial Zone	Bin Qasim Town	1970	25000
Karachi Export Processing Zone	Landhi Town	1980	315
Pakistan Textile City	Bin Qasim Town	2004	1250
West Wharf Industrial Area	Keamari Town		430
SITE Super Highway Phase-I	Super Highway	1983	300
SITE Super Highway Phase-II	Super Highway	1992	1000

Collecting Taxes

Karachi is home to Pakistan's largest ports and many factories. Because of this, it collects a large share of Pakistan's tax money. Most big international companies in Pakistan are based in Karachi. So, they pay their income taxes in the city, even if their money comes from other parts of the country.

Customs officials collect most of the federal taxes and fees at Karachi's ports. This happens even if the imported goods are going to other provinces. About 25% of Pakistan's national income is generated in Karachi.

In 2006–2007, tax and customs offices in Karachi were responsible for a large percentage of various taxes. They collected 46.75% of direct taxes and 75.14% of customs duty.

Who Lives in Karachi?

Karachi is the most diverse city in Pakistan when it comes to languages, ethnic groups, and religions. It is a mix of people from all over Pakistan and other parts of Asia. In 2017, Karachi's population was about 14.9 million. It had grown by 2.49% each year since 1998. People who live in Karachi are called Karachiites in English.

Languages Spoken in Karachi

Karachi has the largest number of Urdu speakers in Pakistan. According to the 2023 census, here's a breakdown of languages spoken in Karachi:

Language	Rank	2023 census	Speakers	2017 census	Speakers	1998 census	Speakers	1981 census	Speakers
Urdu	1	50.60%	10,315,905	42.30%	6,779,142	48.52%	4,497,747	54.34%	2,830,098
Pashto	2	13.52%	2,752,148	15.01%	2,406,011	11.42%	1,058,650	8.71%	453,628
Sindhi	4	11.12%	2,264,189	10.67%	1,709,877	7.22%	669,340	6.29%	327,591
Punjabi	3	8.08%	1,645,282	10.73%	1,719,636	13.94%	1,292,335	13.64%	710,389
Balochi	6	3.97%	808,352	4.04%	648,964	4.34%	402,386	4.39%	228,636
Saraiki	5	3.70%	753,903	4.98%	798,031	2.11%	195,681	0.35%	18,228
Others	7	9.01%	1,817,695	12.25%	1,963,233	12.44%	1,153,126	12.27%	639,560
All		100%	20,357,474	100%	16,024,894	100%	9,269,265	100%	5,208,132

The "others" category includes speakers of Hindko, Brahui, Kashmiri, Mewati, Balti, Kohistani, Shina, Kalasha, and many other languages like Kutchi, Gujarati, Memoni, Burushaski, Marwari, Dari, Makrani, Khowar, Hazaragi, Bengali, and Konkani.

Population Growth

At the end of the 1800s, Karachi had about 105,000 people. By 1947, when Pakistan became independent, it had about 400,000. The city's population grew a lot when hundreds of thousands of Muslim refugees arrived from India. Fast economic growth after independence attracted even more people from all over Pakistan and South Asia.

The 2017 census counted Karachi's population as 14,910,352. This was a growth of 2.49% per year since the 1998 census. The 1998 census had listed Karachi's population at about 9.3 million.

Some people think the census numbers are lower than the real population. They believe Karachi's population might be around 18 million or even higher.

Historical Population
Year	Pop.		%±
1729	250		—
1838	14,000		5500.0%
1842	15,000		7.1%
1850	16,773		11.8%
1856	22,227		32.5%
1861	56,859		155.8%
1881	73,560		29.4%
1891	105,199		43.0%
1901	136,297		29.6%
1911	186,771		37.0%
1921	244,162		30.7%
1931	300,779		23.2%
1941	435,887		44.9%
1951	1,137,667		161.0%
1961	2,044,044		79.7%
1972	3,606,744		76.5%
1981	5,437,984		50.8%
1986	7,443,663		36.9%
1998	9,802,134		31.7%
2017	14,910,352		52.1%
Source: † Large population rise between 1941 and 1951 due to large-scale migration after independence in 1947.

Population Density by District

According to the 2023 Census, Karachi Central is the most crowded district in Karachi and all of Pakistan. It has 55,396.01 residents per square kilometer.

Rank	District	Population (2023 census)	Population (2017 census)	Area (Sq. km.)	Density (2023)	Density (2017)
1	Central	3,822,325	2,971,382	69	55,396.01	43,063.51
2	Korangi	3,128,971	2,577,556	108	28,971.95	23,866.26
3	East	3,921,742	2,875,315	139	28,213.97	20,685.72
4	South	2,329,764	1,769,230	122	19,096.43	14,501.89
5	West	2,679,380	2,077,228	370	7,241.57	5,614.13
6	Kemari	2,068,451	1,829,837	559	3,700.27	3,273.41
7	Malir	2,432,248	1,924,364	2,160	1,126.04	890.90
	All	20,357,474	16,024,894	3,527	5,771.90	4,543.49

Diverse Ethnic Groups

The oldest parts of Karachi show the mix of people who first settled there. Balochis and Sindhis still make up a large part of the Lyari neighborhood. After Pakistan's independence, many Hindus left, and many Muslim immigrants from India settled in Karachi. The city grew by 150% between 1941 and 1951 because of these new arrivals. Karachi is now considered a melting pot of Pakistan and its most diverse city.

Karachi is the largest city outside the Bengal region where Bengali is spoken.

In 2011, about 2.5 million foreign migrants lived in the city. Most were from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka.

Many people in Karachi are descendants of Urdu-speaking migrants from North India. They are known as Muhajir, which means "migrant" in Arabic. The first Muhajirs came to Karachi in 1946. They were drawn to Karachi for its job opportunities. Muhajirs continued to move to Pakistan through the 1950s and early 1960s. In the 2017 census, Muhajirs made up slightly less than 45% of the city's population. They form most of Karachi's middle class.

Karachi also has many non-Urdu speaking Muslim groups from India. These include Gujarati, Marathi, and Konkani speakers. There is also a community of Malabari Muslims from Kerala in South India. These groups are slowly becoming part of the Urdu-speaking community.

During the fast economic growth of the 1960s, many Pashtuns from the NWFP moved to Karachi. Afghan Pashtun refugees settled in Karachi in the 1980s. Karachi has the world's largest urban Pashtun population. Pashtuns from Afghanistan are often seen as more traditional. Pashtuns from Pakistan's Swat Valley are generally more modern. The Pashtun community makes up most of the manual laborers and transporters.

Many people from Punjab started settling in Karachi in the 1960s. They now make up about 14% of Karachi's population. They form most of the city's police force. Most of Karachi's Christian community, which is 2.5% of the population, is Punjabi.

Even though it's the capital of Sindh province, only 6–8% of the city is Sindhi. Sindhis work a lot in the city and provincial government offices. About 4% of Karachi's population speaks Balochi. Many of these Balochi speakers are of Sheedi heritage, whose ancestors came from Africa.

After the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and Bangladesh's independence, thousands of Urdu-speaking Biharis came to Karachi. Many Bengalis also moved from Bangladesh to Karachi in the 1980s and 1990s. Karachi is now home to an estimated 2.5 to 3 million ethnic Bengalis. Rohingya refugees from Myanmar also live in the city. Karachi has about 400,000 Rohingya residents.

People from Central Asia, like Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, have also settled in Karachi. Domestic workers from the Philippines work in fancy areas of Karachi. Many of the city's teachers are from Sri Lanka. Some Sri Lankans moved to Karachi because of the economic crisis in their country in 2022. Chinese people started moving to Karachi in the 1940s to work as dentists, chefs, and shoemakers. Many of their descendants still live in Pakistan. More Chinese people came to Karachi after 2015 because of the CPEC project. The city also has a small number of British and American people.

During World War II, about 3,000 Polish refugees from the Soviet Union came to Karachi. Some Polish families stayed after Pakistan's independence. Karachi also used to have many refugees from post-revolutionary Iran.

Religions in Karachi

Religions in Karachi
Religions			Percent
Islam			96.53%
Christianity			2.21%
Hinduism			1.12%
Others			0.14%

Karachi is mostly Muslim. Over 96% of its population follows Islam. About 85% of Karachi's Muslims are Sunnis, and 15% are Shi'ites. Sunnis mostly follow the Hanafi school of thought. Sufism also influences religious practices, with respect for Sufi saints like Abdullah Shah Ghazi. Shi'ites are mainly Twelver, with a smaller group of Ismailis. There are over 3,000 mosques in Karachi. Famous ones include Grand Jamia Mosque, Baitul Mukarram Mosque, Masjid-e-Tooba, and Memon Masjid.

Christians in Karachi

About 2.2% of Karachi's population is Christian. The Christian community mainly includes Punjabi Christians and Goan Catholics. Goan Catholics are usually more educated and wealthier. They established the posh Cincinnatus Town as a Goan area. The Goan community started in 1820 and has about 12,000–15,000 people. Karachi has its own archdiocese, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi.

Hindus in Karachi

Most of Karachi's Hindu population left for India after Pakistan's independence. However, Karachi still has a large Hindu community, estimated at 250,000 in 2013. There are several active temples in central Karachi. The Hindu community includes wealthier Sindhi Hindu and Punjabi Hindu groups. Poorer Hindus, from Rajasthan and Marwar, often work as laborers. Wealthier Hindus live in Clifton and Saddar. Poorer ones live in Narayanpura and Lyari, where they also have temples. Many streets in central Karachi still have Hindu names. Many temples in Saddar are over 100 years old.

Zoroastrians in Karachi

Karachi has a wealthy and important community of Parsis. They have lived in the region since the 12th century. The modern community started in the mid-1800s. More Parsi immigrants from Persia settled in the late 1800s. The number of Parsis in Karachi is decreasing due to low birth rates and people moving to Western countries.

In 2023, the census showed about 1,435 Parsis left in Karachi.

Getting Around: Transportation in Karachi

Roads and Highways

Karachi has a large road network, about 15,500 km (9,631 miles) long. About 5 million vehicles use these roads every day.

The city has 6 special "Signal-Free Corridors." These are like urban express roads. They let traffic travel long distances without stopping at traffic lights.

• The 16 km (10 miles) Karsaz Road connects the PAF Museum to the SITE Industrial Area.
• The Rashid Minhas Road connects Surjani Town to Shah Faisal Town over 20 km (12 miles).
• The 19 km (12 miles) University Road connects Karachi's city center to the Gulistan-e-Johar suburb.
• The 18 km (11 miles) Shahrah-e-Faisal connects Karachi's Sadar area to the Jinnah International Airport.
• The 18 km (11 miles) Shahrah-e-Pakistan connects the city center to Federal B. Area.
• The 18 km (11 miles) Sher Shah Suri Road connects the city center to Nazimabad.

The Lyari Expressway is a 16 km (10 miles) highway along the Lyari River. This toll road helps reduce traffic in the city. North of Karachi is the 39 km (24 miles) Karachi Northern Bypass (M10). It goes around the city to connect to other major highways. A 39 km (24 miles) Malir Expressway is being built. It will link Karachi's DHA to Malir Town and the M-9 motorway.

Karachi is where the M-9 motorway begins. This road connects Karachi to Hyderabad. The M-9 is part of a bigger motorway network across Pakistan. These roads were built as part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor. From Hyderabad, you can reach all major Pakistani cities by motorway.

Karachi is also where the N-5 National Highway starts. This road connects the city to Thatta, an old capital of Sindh. It also connects to northern Pakistan and the Afghan border. The N-25 National Highway connects Karachi to Quetta. The N-10 National Highway connects Karachi to the port city of Gwadar.

Trains and Railways

Karachi is connected to the rest of Pakistan by Pakistan Railways. The Karachi City Station and Karachi Cantonment Railway Station are the city's two main train stations. There's even an international train, the Thar Express. It links Karachi Cantonment Station to a station in Jodhpur, India.

The railway system also carries goods from Karachi port to northern Pakistan. The city is the starting point for the Main Line-1 Railway. This line connects Karachi to Peshawar. Pakistan's railway network is being improved. Trains will be able to travel at an average speed of 160 km/h (100 mph).

Public Transportation Options

Metrobus System

The Pakistani Government is building the Karachi Metrobus project. This is a 6-line, 150 km (93 miles) bus rapid transit system. The Metrobus project started in 2016. The Orange and Green Lines are already working, and the Red-Line is being built.

People's Bus Service

In 2022, the local government started the Peoples Bus Service. It has over 100 buses that run on 12 different routes for a low price. The buses have air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and special seating for disabled and elderly people. They are also wheelchair accessible.

Red buses are for everyone. Pink buses are only for women. White buses are electric and good for the environment.

Karachi Circular Railway Revival

The Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) is a train system that serves the Karachi area. It ran fully between 1969 and 1999. Since 2001, there have been efforts to bring it back. In November 2020, the KCR started running again partially.

The KCR is part of the CPEC project. Construction started in 2022 to completely rebuild the 43 km (27 miles) KCR track and stations. It will become an automated rapid transit system with electric trains. The route will stay the same, but many underpasses and bridges will be built to remove 22 road crossings. The new KCR will be similar to Lahore's Orange Train. It will also have shared stations with the Karachi Metrobus. This project is expected to be ready by 2025.

The KCR will connect the city center to many industrial, business, and residential areas.

Tramway Service

A tramway service started in Karachi in 1884 but closed in 1975. Now, there are plans to bring back a modern tramway service. Turkey has offered to help with this project.

Air Travel

Karachi's Jinnah International Airport is the busiest airport in Pakistan. In 2018, 7.2 million passengers used it. The current airport building was built in 1992. It has separate areas for international and domestic flights. Karachi's airport is a main base for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and other airlines. It offers direct flights to places in East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf States, Europe, and North America.

Sea Ports

Pakistan's largest shipping ports are the Port of Karachi and the nearby Port Qasim. The Port of Karachi is the oldest port in Pakistan. Port Qasim is about 35 km (22 miles) east of the Port of Karachi. These ports handle 95% of Pakistan's trade goods coming in and out of the country. They have modern facilities for handling large amounts of goods, containers, and oil. These ports are part of the Maritime Silk Road.

How Karachi is Managed

City Planning

The Karachi Development Authority (KDA) is in charge of developing most undeveloped land around Karachi. The Lyari Development Authority (LDA) and Malir Development Authority (MDA) were also created for this purpose. KDA started in 1957. The LDA and MDA were formed later in the 1990s.

In 2001, KDA came under the control of Karachi's local government. However, in 2011, KDA was placed directly under the Government of Sindh (the provincial government). The LDA and MDA were also brought back by the provincial government. This means that city planning in Karachi is controlled by the province, not by the local city government.

Each District Municipal Corporation manages land use in developed areas. The Sindh Building Control Authority makes sure that buildings are built according to rules. Military areas and the Defence Housing Authority are managed by the military.

City Services: Water, Waste, and More

Water Supply

The Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KW&SB) manages the city's water supply. It provides 640 million gallons of water daily to the city. Most of this water comes from the Indus River. About 90 million gallons daily come from the Hub Dam. Karachi's water is brought to the city through a complex system of canals and pipes.

About 80% of Karachi homes have piped water. Private water tankers supply water to informal settlements. In 2022, 15% of residents said their water supply was "bad" or "very bad." 40% were worried about how stable the water supply was. By 2022, about 35,000 people were dying each year from water-related diseases.

The K-IV water project is being built to help with water shortages. It costs $876 million. It will connect Keenjhar Lake to Karachi. This project is expected to provide 650 million gallons of drinking water daily to the city. The first part will supply 260 million gallons.

Plans are also being made to build desalination plants on the Arabian Sea coast. These plants will turn seawater into fresh water. This will help with water problems in the western parts of the city.

Waste Management

About 98% of Karachi's homes are connected to the city's underground sewer system. This system is mostly run by the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KW&SB). The KW&SB has many pumping stations, reservoirs, and thousands of kilometers of pipes.

The city produces about 472 million gallons of sewage daily. Most of this is released without being treated. The KW&SB can treat up to 150 million gallons daily, but only uses about 50 million gallons of this ability. There are three treatment plants in SITE Town, Mehmoodabad, and Mauripur.

In 2022, 75% of people reported that Karachi's drainage system overflows or backs up. This is the highest percentage among major Pakistani cities. Parts of the drainage system overflow several times a month, flooding some streets.

In Orangi, people organized themselves to set up their own sewer system. This was done through the Orangi Pilot Project, which started in 1980. Now, 90% of Orangi streets have a sewer system built by local residents. Residents pay for the pipes and help lay them. They also maintain the pipes. The city government has built some larger pipes for the network. Because of this project, 96% of Orangi residents have access to a toilet.

The Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) is in charge of collecting and getting rid of solid waste. This is for all of Sindh province, including Karachi. Karachi has the highest percentage of residents who say their streets are never cleaned. About 42% of residents report this. Only 17% of Karachi residents say their streets are cleaned daily. Most Karachi residents (69%) use private garbage collection services. Only 15% use city garbage collection. In a 2022 survey, 53% of Karachi residents said their neighborhood's cleanliness was "bad" or "very bad."

Electricity Supply

K-Electric is the only company that provides electricity in Karachi. It used to be owned by the government but became private in 2019. The government still owns some shares. HUBCO also owns some major power plants.

Karachi mostly gets electricity from power plants that use oil, gas, and coal. These are located on the western coast or in the Port Qasim Industrial Zone. Recently built coal power plants include the 1320MW Port Qasim Powerplant and the 1320MW Hub Coal Powerplant. Three nuclear power plants on the western coast, called KANUPP (K-1, K-2, K-3), also supply power to Karachi. Jhimpir, a nearby town, has wind power plants that produce over 1000MW. This will increase in the future. Solar parks are also planned for the western coast.

About 75% of Karachi has electricity almost all year without interruptions. However, 25% of areas, including industrial zones, have power outages for up to 6 hours every day. This is because there isn't enough electricity being generated. Power outages get worse in peak summer and Monsoon season (May to August). Many informal settlements do not have electricity.

Emergency Services

The police in Karachi are controlled by the provincial government, not the city government. Ambulance services are run by private hospitals or non-profit organizations. The most famous ones are Edhi, Chhipa, and JDC. Firefighting services are under the local government. They have enough firefighters and vehicles to respond quickly to fires.

Learning in Karachi: Education

Literacy Rates in Districts

According to the 2017 Census of Pakistan, Central is the district with the most literate people (aged 10 and above) in Karachi and Sindh. Here are the literacy rates for Karachi's districts:

Rank	District	Literate Population % (2017 census)
1	Central	81.52%
2	Korangi	80.49%
3	South	77.79%
4	East	75.96%
5	West (including Kemari)	65.61%
6	Malir	63.69%

Schools: Primary and Secondary

Karachi's education system has five levels:

• Primary: Grades one to five.
• Middle: Grades six to eight.
• High: Grades nine and ten, leading to the Secondary School Certificate.
• Intermediate: Grades eleven and twelve, leading to a Higher Secondary School Certificate.
• University: Programs for bachelor's and advanced degrees.

Karachi has both public and private schools. Most schools are separated by gender from primary to intermediate levels. Universities are mostly co-ed.

Several schools in Karachi, like St Patrick's High School and St Joseph's Convent School, are run by Christian churches. They are among Pakistan's most respected schools.

Higher Education: Colleges and Universities

Karachi has several important public universities. The first public universities in Karachi date back to the British colonial era.

• The Sindh Madressatul Islam, founded in 1885, became a university in 2012.
• The D. J. Sindh Government Science College, established in 1887, became a university in 2014.
• The Nadirshaw Edulji Dinshaw University of Engineering and Technology (NED), founded in 1921, is Pakistan's oldest higher education institution.
• The Dow University of Health Sciences was started in 1945. It is now one of Pakistan's top medical research places.

The University of Karachi, founded in 1951, is Pakistan's largest university. It has 24,000 students. The Institute of Business Administration (IBA), founded in 1955, is the oldest business school outside North America and Europe. The Dawood University of Engineering and Technology, opened in 1962, offers degrees in engineering. The Pakistan Navy Engineering College (PNEC) is run by the Pakistan Navy.

Karachi also has many private universities:

• The Aga Khan University, founded in 1983, is Karachi's oldest private school. It is one of Pakistan's best medical schools.
• The Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture was founded in 1989. It offers degrees in arts and architecture.
• Hamdard University is the largest private university in Pakistan.
• The National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences (NUCES-FAST) has two campuses in Karachi.
• Bahria University (BU), founded in 2000, offers degrees in Management Sciences, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, and Psychology.
• Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET) offers degrees in biomedical, electronics, telecom, and computer engineering.
• Karachi Institute of Economics & Technology (KIET) has two campuses.
• The Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST), founded in 1995, has a campus in Karachi.
• Other universities include Iqra University, Jinnah Medical and Dental College, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, United Medical and Dental College, Liaquat National Medical College, Institute of Cost & Management Accountants of Pakistan (ICMAP), and Institute of Business Management (CBM).

Staying Healthy: Healthcare in Karachi

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  Aga Khan University's hospital

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  Lady Dufferin Hospital

Karachi is a center for medical research. It has at least 30 public hospitals, 80 registered private hospitals, and 12 recognized medical colleges. Some famous hospitals include Indus Hospital, Lady Dufferin Hospital, Karachi Institute of Heart Diseases, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Civil Hospital, Combined Military Hospital, PNS Rahat, PNS Shifa, Aga Khan University Hospital, Liaquat National Hospital, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Holy Family Hospital, and Ziauddin Hospital. In 1995, Ziauddin Hospital performed Pakistan's first bone marrow transplant.

In 2017, Karachi started a new warning system for heatwaves. In the past, heatwaves had caused many deaths. But with the warning system, no heat-related deaths were reported. During the 2020-2021 COVID-19 pandemic, vaccines were available in all major hospitals.

Fun and Culture in Karachi

Shopping Malls

Karachi is home to Pakistan's and South Asia's largest shopping mall, Lucky One Mall. It has over two hundred stores. According to TripAdvisor, the city also has Pakistan's favorite shopping mall, Dolmen Mall in Clifton. Another huge mall, 'Mall of Karachi,' will open in 2023. It is located at the bottom of Pakistan's tallest skyscraper, Bahria Icon Tower.

Museums and Art Galleries

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  The famous "Priest-King" statue of the Indus Valley civilization is displayed at Karachi's National Museum of Pakistan.

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  Built as a home for a wealthy Hindu businessman, the Mohatta Palace is now a museum open to the public.

Karachi has many important museums. The National Museum of Pakistan and Mohatta Palace show a rich collection of art. The city also has several private art galleries. You can visit the Pakistan Airforce Museum, the Pakistan Maritime Museum, and the country's first interactive science center, the MagnifiScience Centre.

Wazir Mansion, where Pakistan's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah was born, is now a museum. Quaid-e-Azam House, Muhammad Ali Jinnah's home, is also a museum. Other museums include TDF Ghar and the State Bank of Pakistan Museum & Art Gallery.

Theater and Cinema

Karachi is home to some of Pakistan's important cultural places. The National Academy of Performing Arts offers courses in performing arts like classical music and theater. Karachi has groups like Thespianz Theater, which works on theater and arts activities.

While Lahore was known for Pakistan's film industry, Karachi is home to Urdu cinema. The Kara Film Festival shows independent Pakistani and international films every year.

Popular cinemas in Karachi include Bambino Cinema, Capri Cinema, Cinepax Cinema, Cinegold Plex Cinema (Bahria Town), Mega Multiplex Cinema (Millennium Mall), Nueplex Cinema (Askari-4), and Atrium Mall Cinema (Sadar).

Music Scene

The All Pakistan Music Conference holds its annual music festival in Karachi. The National Arts Council (Koocha-e-Saqafat) also hosts musical performances and poetry readings.

Challenges in Karachi

City Planning and Infrastructure

Karachi's growth has been so fast that city planning and services haven't kept up. This means the city ranks low in terms of how easy it is to live there. The city doesn't have a clear transportation plan, and there aren't enough transport options. Up to 1,000 new vehicles are added to the crowded streets every day. Roads are often broken and not fixed quickly.

After independence, there wasn't enough housing for all the refugees. So, authorities started giving "slips" in 1950. These slips allowed refugees to settle on any empty land. These unplanned communities are called katchi abadis. About half of Karachi's residents still live in these areas. They have limited paved roads and fewer services.

Pollution Problems

Karachi's air quality is one of the worst in the world. Because it's a desert area, there's a lot of dust all year, except during the rainy season. Vehicles and factories also add to air pollution, greenhouse gases, and global warming. There is a lot of noise pollution from traffic.

Land pollution happens because solid trash is not always taken to special dumping sites. Trash can be seen everywhere. Finally, there is water pollution in the Lyari and Malir rivers. Sewers directly empty into these rivers, and the untreated water flows into the Arabian Sea. This pollutes the ocean and harms marine life. Three wastewater treatment plants exist, but they are not working.

Flooding During Monsoon Season

The drainage system and storm drains (called Naalahs) in the city are not big enough for heavy monsoon rains. These drains are also filled with trash. When water has nowhere to go, it floods streets, roads, underpasses, and even houses during July and August every year. Major drains like Orangi Naalah and Gujjar Naalah are cleaned by the government each year, but people pollute them again the next day.

Flooding makes it hard to travel between different areas of the city, especially Landhi and Korangi. Floods have also caused deaths from drowning or electric shocks.

Buildings and Design: Karachi's Architecture

Karachi has many buildings with different architectural styles. The downtown areas of Saddar and Clifton have buildings from the early 1900s. These range from the neo-classical KPT building to the Sindh High Court Building.

Karachi got its first neo-Gothic buildings when Frere Hall, Empress Market, and St. Patrick's Cathedral were finished. The Mock Tudor style was used in the Karachi Gymkhana and the Boat Club. Neo-Renaissance architecture was popular in the 1800s. Examples include St. Joseph's Convent (1870) and the Sind Club (1883). The classical style came back in the late 1800s, seen in Lady Dufferin Hospital (1898) and the Cantt. Railway Station.

While Italianate buildings were popular, a mix of styles called Indo-Saracenic or Anglo-Mughal started to appear. Local business people built impressive buildings. Zaibunnisa Street in the Saddar area is an example. The Hindu Gymkhana (1925) and Mohatta Palace are examples of Mughal revival buildings. The Sindh Wildlife Conservation Building used to be a Freemasonic Lodge.

The Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture is a great example of saving old buildings. An entire building from the Kharadar area was moved to Clifton. Each piece of wood and stone was carefully removed, moved, and put back together in a new place.

Unique and interesting buildings have appeared throughout Karachi. A notable example of modern architecture is the Pakistan State Oil Headquarters building. The city also has modern Islamic architecture, including the Aga Khan University hospital, Grand Jamia Mosque, Masjid e Tooba, and Quaid's Mausoleum.

One special thing about Karachi's homes is that two- or three-story townhouses often have a front yard protected by a high brick wall. I. I. Chundrigar Road has many tall buildings. Famous ones include the Habib Bank Plaza, UBL Tower, and MCB Tower. New skyscrapers are being built in Clifton. In 2022, at least 50 buildings taller than 150 meters were under construction.

Sports in Karachi

Cricket: A Popular Sport

Cricket has been played in Pakistan even before the country was created in 1947. The first international cricket match in Karachi was on November 22, 1935. It was between Sindh and Australian cricket teams. About 5,000 people watched the game. Karachi also invented tape ball, a safer and cheaper way to play cricket.

The first major cricket match at the National Stadium was in 1955 between Pakistan and India. Since then, the Pakistani national cricket team has won many matches at this stadium. The first One Day International match was in 1980.

The National Stadium hosted two group matches and a quarter-final during the 1996 Cricket World Cup.

Rafi Cricket Stadium is being built in Bahria Town. It will soon be the largest cricket stadium in Karachi, holding over 50,000 people.

Football: The "Little Brazil" of Pakistan

Lyari, a neighborhood in Karachi, is very important for football in Pakistan. It has a long history and strong cultural ties to the sport. Lyari has always produced talented football players for the national team. It's even nicknamed "Little Brazil."

In its early years, football in Pakistan was mainly played in Balochistan and Lyari. Most players for the Pakistan national football team in the 1960s came from Lyari. This time is often called the "golden age" of Pakistani football. Famous players from this time include Abdul Ghafoor, nicknamed the "Pakistani Pelé."

The Kakri Ground and People's Football Stadium are major football stadiums in the city. In 2005, Karachi hosted the 2005 SAFF Championship. The Geo Super Football League in 2007 also attracted huge crowds.

Other Sports and Clubs

Karachi has a special place in sports history. Some sources say that in 1877, the first rules for badminton were created in Karachi, possibly at Frere Hall.

Karachi has hosted the National Games of Pakistan seven times, most recently in 2007.

Golf is becoming more popular. Clubs like Dreamworld Resort and Bahria Town Golf Club offer facilities. The city also has places for field hockey (Hockey Club of Pakistan), boxing (KPT Sports Complex), squash (Jahangir Khan Squash Complex), and polo. There are also marinas and boating clubs. The National Bank of Pakistan Sports Complex is a multi-purpose sports facility.

Professional teams of Karachi

Club	League	Sport	Venue	Established
Karachi Kings	Pakistan Super League	Cricket	National Stadium	2015
Karachi Blues	National T20 Cup	Cricket	National Stadium	2023
Karachi Whites	National T20 Cup/Quaid-e-Azam Trophy	Cricket	National Stadium	2023
Karachi Zebras	National T20 League/National One-day Championship	Cricket	National Stadium	2004
Karachi United	Pakistan Premier League	Football	Karachi United Stadium	1996
Diya WFC	National Women Football Championship	Football	N/A	2002

Images for kids

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  Mules Mansion

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  Karachi features several examples of colonial-era Indo-Saracenic architecture, such as the KMC Building.

See also

In Spanish: Karachi para niños