Manora, Karachi

A couple of abandoned ships at Manora Island (Photo credit

Manora or Manoro (Urdu: جزیرہ منوڑا‎) is a small peninsula (2.5 km²) located just south of the Port of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Manora is connected to the mainland by a 12 kilometer long causeway called the Sandspit. Manora and neighboring islands form a protective barrier between Karachi harbor to the north and the Arabian Sea to the south. The western bay of the harbor contains endangered mangrove forests which border the Sandspit and Manora island. To the east is Karachi Bay and the beach towns of Kiamari and Clifton. The peninsula is located at

 WikiMiniAtlas

24°48′00″N 66°58′00″E / 24.80000°N 66.96667°E / 24.80000; 66.96667 (24.800000, 66.970000). There are several ethnic groups including Muhajirs, Punjabis, Sindhis, Kashmiris, Seraikis, Pakhtuns, Balochis, Memons, Bohras, Ismailis, etc. Over 99% of the population is Muslim. Salehabad is a historic traditional fishing village on the peninsula.

 

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‘ island (ancient Manora island near Karachi harbour), from where Alexander’s admiral Nearchus set sail; and Barbarikon, a port of the Indo-Greek Bactrian kingdom. Alexander’s writers:

Then making their way through two rocks, so close together that the oar-blades of the ships touched the rocks to port and starboard, they moored at Morontobara, after sailing some three hundred stades. The harbour is spacious, circular, deep, and calm, but its entrance is narrow. They called it, in the natives’ language, ‘The Ladies’ Pool,’ since a lady was the first sovereign of this district. When they had got safe through the rocks, they met great waves, and the sea running strong; and moreover it seemed very hazardous to sail seaward of the cliffs. For the next day, however, they sailed with an island on their port beam, so as to break the sea, so close indeed to the beach that one would have conjectured that it was a channel cut between the island and the coast. The entire passage was of some seventy stades. On the beach were many thick trees, and the island was wholly covered with shady forest. About dawn, they sailed outside the island, by a narrow and turbulent passage; for the tide was still falling. And when they had sailed some hundred and twenty stades they anchored in the mouth of the river Arabis. There was a fine large harbour by its mouth; but there was no drinking water; for the mouths of the Arabis were mixed with sea-water. However, after penetrating forty stades inland they found a water-hole, and after drawing water thence they returned back again. By the harbour was a high island, desert, and round it one could get oysters and all kinds of fish. Up to this the country of the Arabeans extends; they are the last Indians settled in this direction; from here on the territory, of the Oreitans begins.^[1]

The Manora Island and was visited by Ottoman admiral Seydi Ali Reis and mentioned in his book Mir’ât ül Memâlik in 1554. According to the British historian Eliot, parts of city of Karachi and the island of Manora at port of Karachi constituted the city of Debal. The island was the site of a small fort constructed in the eighteenth century when the port of Karachi traded with Oman and Bahrain. The fort was stormed by the British in 1839 because of the strategic location of Karachi. Although the fort is now buried beneath the naval base, the lighthouse is a visible reminder of the British presence having been built in 1889 to assist vessels approaching Karachi harbor.

The island of Manora has served for more than 50 years as the main base of the Pakistan Navy, with berths for naval vessels located along the eastern edge of the island. The island has been governed as a military cantonment despite being located so close to Karachi. The opening of the new Jinnah Naval Base at Ormara, 250 kilometers away, has meant that approximately half of the naval vessels have moved away from Manora.

 

There is a Varun Dev Mandir at the Manora Island. The temple is devoted to Varuna, the god of the oceans in Hindu mythology. The exact year of the temple’s construction or foundation is not known (it may be thousands of years old) but it is widely believed that the current structure was built in around 1917–18. Today, the temple is in a dilapidated state as humid winds are eating into the structure and the rich carvings on the walls of the temple are slowly eroding. At present, the building is not used for worship and the last ritual was held in the 1950s.

Currently, This temple belongs to the Hindu Council of Pakistan. According to a legend, it was around 16th century when a wealthy sailor by the name of Bhojomal Nancy Bhattia bought Manora Island from the Khan of Kalat, who owned most of the land along the coastline at that time and then his family commissioned a temple on the lay terrain.

 

Manora is also a popular picnic spot because of the long sandy beaches along the southern edge of the island, which merge into the beaches of the Sandspit and then extend several kilometers to the beaches at Hawkesbay. At the southeastern end of Manora island is the tallest lighthouse (28 m or 91 feet (28 m) high)^[1] in Pakistan. The island lies approximately 15–20 minutes by boat ride from mainland Karachi but there are no good hotels available for an overnight stay. For this and other reasons, the Government of Pakistan has been considering developing the island into a tourist destination. The island has been envisioned as an exotic location with natural landscapes such as the beaches and the mangrove forests, and secluded beauty with an upgrade for the lighthouse to add to the quaint feel of the island.

Development

Pakistan’s Ministry for Ports and Shipping signed a memorandum of understanding in 2006 with Dubai World and M/s Limitless + Dubai Islamic Bank for the redevelopment of Manora Island. As part of the development plans, the KPT and all military establishments will vacate the island and hand it over to the companies for development. The development will comprise establishing high rise hotels and apartment buildings in the areas.

Demography

There are several ethnic groups in Manora Island including Muhajirs, Punjabis, Sindhis, Kashmiris, Seraikis, Pakhtuns, Balochis, Memons etc. Over 99% of the population is Muslim.

 

The Karachi Golf Club

Karachi Golf Club one of the largest Golf clubs in Karachi.

The Karachi Golf Club, is a golf course situated in Karsaz, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. The 27-hole golf course is the oldest golf club in Pakistan.

The course was turfed, landscaped, and filled with greenery, making it one of the largest green areas in Karachi. The Karachi Golf Club was an affiliate of the Sindh Club in 1888 and registered as an independent club in 1891.

 

The course was relocated to the present site in 1953. In 1991, renowned architect Peter Heradine designed the 18 hole Championship Course. The 18 hole Green Course was created a year later and in 1993 nine more holes were built. The three courses are now referred as the Blue, Yellow and Red Courses.

Golf in Karachi has gained in popularity and the Karachi Golf Club is a favourite pick.

The golf club is where the Pakistan Open is hosted.*

PAF Museum, Karachi

PAF Museum, Karachi (Urdu: پاک فضائیہ متحف ‎) is an Air Force museum and park situated near Karsaz Flyover on Shahra-e-Faisal in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.

A majority of the aircraft, weapons and radar are displayed outside in the park but the main museum features all major fighter aircraft that have been used by the Pakistan Air Force. The museum also houses the Vickers VC.1 Viking used by Quaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan and a Folland Gnat of Indian Air Force,^[1] that landed in Pasrur in 1965 war. Also on display are the scale models of some WWI, WWII and modern aircraft and photo galleries of almost all the squadrons of PAF,

 

History

The museum was established in 1990 in two disused hangers in a remote part of the Base. The museum was expanded significantly from its humble beginnings in the period 1999 – 2004, additions include children playing areas, rides, and eateries.

Management

The museum is managed by a committee headed by the Air Officer Commanding Southern Air Command, however it is managed and run by the Deputy Chairman. Recently the Museum has been renamed as Historical Archives Section and given additional responsibilities for maintaining some documented history of the PAF. The Current Director / Deputy Chairman of the Museum is Gp Capt Usman Ghani.

Clifton Beach Karachi

Clifton Beach or Seaview is a beach in Karachi, Pakistan located on the Arabian Sea. It is one of the neighborhoods of Clifton, Saddar Town. It was the world’s most popular silver-sand beach and health resort during 20th century^{[citation needed]} but in 2003 it was affected by an oil spill.^[1] The beach has attractions for families and tourists, including beachside horse and camel rides, amusement parks, restaurants, and swimming in the Arabian Sea.

 

A gated residential area called Seaview Apartments lies close to a section of Clifton beach known as Seaview beach or simply “Seaview“. Further ahead lies Darakhshan Villas which comprises residential townhouses and huts.

 

Another attraction in this area is the recently constructed Cineplex cinema for the people who reside in DHA and Clifton.^{[citation needed]} Hollywood films are mostly screened here along with some selected Bollywood films. The cinemas are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and other entertainment sections.^{[citation needed]}

Soon as the sun sets,flood lights come up and the picnic continues till midnight.

The Defence Housing Authority is fighting erosion by badding more sand, which may change the shape and features of the beach.^{[citation needed]}

Other beaches close to the city include Sandspit, Hawke’s Bay, and Paradise Point (a sandstone rock promontory with a natural arch), sonehra point, french beach, cape Mount, Manora beach, but Clifton Beach is the most popular picnic destination in Karachi.^[citation

Karachi Safari Park

Karachi Safari Park (Urdu: کراچی سفاری باغ‎), opened in 1970, is a public funded ‘family-only’ safari park covering an area of 407 acres (1.65 km²), located in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. It has a zoo, geared with viewing facilities like chairlifts and safari tracks, as well as two natural lakes. The park also features a private funded amusement park, Go Aish, in its vicinity.

 

History

Karachi Safari Park was inaugurated in 1970 by Lieutenant General Atiq-ur-Rehman. It was an independent project of the then Karachi Municipal Corporation. The creation of an independent zoo, safari and aquarium department followed in 1995. Karachi Safari Park is now an independent wing of the Community Development Department of City District Government of Karachi and has been designated as a ‘family park’.

Attractions

• Swan lake: A natural lake is located inside the safari park featuring a pagoda style sitting place.^[1]
• Chairlift: The 10 minutes long chairlift ride was set up at a cost of US$ 2 million and was inaugurated by the Karachi City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal on March 8, 2006.
• Go Aish: A private theme park featuring ropes course, paintball, quad biking, indoor climbing and a mini golf course.^[2]

Future projects

• Aviary: In June 2012, administrator of KMC, Muhammad Hussain Syed, told The Nation that the country’s biggest aviary was being constructed speedily inside the safari park.^[3]
• Boating: In September 2012, it was announced that pedalo boating will be introduced in the lake.^[4]
• Camping site: A 300 acres of scouting land and camping area was also reported to be under development in October 2012.^[5]
• Elephant enclave: An enclave of about 65,000 square feet that would include a bathing space and resting area for the elephants was reported to be in construction.^[6]

The Karachi Zoo

Flamingoes at Karachi Zoo

The history of Karachi Zoo is based on the administrative report of 1949 of the corporation of the city of Karachi. Accordingly it was commonly known as Mahatma Gandhi Garden. It was transferred by the government to the municipality in the year 1861 on the condition that it shall never be sublet or transferred. The Zoo has an interesting history as it forms a part of the ground where the old East India Companies factory was situated. In 1833 as it was marked on a map prepared by Commander Charles, who described it as surrounded by trees, giving a look of garden. In 1878, the Municipality after considering various suggestions for improving the Zoo placed it under a trust to be maintained out of public subscription. The present Zoo started in a better way by donation in 1881. In 1953 K.M.C. decided to create the post of full time curator, a qualified veterinary doctor, to keep the animals in good health. Presently total sanctioned strength of Karachi Zoo is 233 staff including 8 technical staff and the rest skilled or semi skilled workers/staff.

 

Dr. A.A Qureshi, Ex-Deputy Director Zoo, has described the history of Zoo as under: –

“In 1799 when the ruling Tlapur Mir’s of Hyderabad Sindh removed Mr. Crowes, the factory Manager of the old East India Company, little did either of them know that the Government garden surrounding the present site would ever turn into the emerald, green paradise of Karachi where the biggest Zoo of the country would be housed. In 1840 when the English settled in Karachi, the best use they had for this piece of land to grow vegetables for the tummies and Lucerne for seeds.”

 

“As late as 1921 there were three malis in the Zoo, a shop and a clerk but no peon in the office.”

“One is surprised to find out from the annuals of Zoological Garden that the first source of income was not large. The deterioration of the soil and the rumble of distant guns affected the first, and the constant movement of groups of troops since the commencement of Afghan was reduced the list of subscriber and the money. Consequently, the Zoo could not be properly maintained.

“The present Zoo started by donation in 1881 soon claimed the attention of the Municipal Commissioner of Bombay who respectfully wrote to the authorities to find way and means of keeping animal in good health.”

When the first curator, as the post designated, confirming to such a post that existed for Victoria Museum of Karachi (which was also under K.M.C.), the garden still wore the crest of Mahatma Gandhi.

Mazar-e-Quaid

Mausoleum of M.A Jinnah is frequently visited by Pakistani nationalists, It is a national symbol of Pakistan.

Mazar-e-Quaid (Urdu: مزار قائد‎), Jinnah Mausoleum or the National Mausoleum refers to the tomb (Mazar) of the founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah. It is an iconic symbol of Karachi throughout the world. The mausoleum (Urdu/Persian/Arabic: mazār), completed in the 1960s, is situated at the heart of the city. It is the final resting place and mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan and is located in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.

The location is usually calm and tranquil which is significant considering that it is in the heart of one of the largest global megalopolises. The glowing tomb can be seen for miles at night. Khan Liaquat Ali Khan, the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, and Jinnah’s sister, Fatima Jinnah, are also buried besides Jinnah. Official and military ceremonies take place here on special occasions, especially on 23 March, 14 August, 11 September and 25 December. Dignitaries and officials from foreign countries also visit this place.

 

Architecture

The Mausoleum building was designed by Mumbai based Indian architect Yahya Merchant.^[1] It is made of white marble with curved Moorish arches and copper grills reset on an elevated 54 square meters platform.^[2] The mausoleum is located in a 53 hectare park and the size of the building is 75x75m on ground and 43m high, built on an 4m high platform. In each wall is placed an entrance. 15 successive fountains lead to the platform from one side and from all sides terraced avenues lead to the gates. The cool inner sanctum reflects the green of a four-tiered crystal chandelier gifted by the people of China. Around the mausoleum is a park fitted with strong beamed spot-lights which at night project light on the white mausoleum.^[3] In the interior of the grave complex, there are three graves in a row and one to the north.

 

The northern one, which is decorated with a series of black floral design at the base, belongs to Miss Fatima Jinnah, Jinnah’s sister. Out of the three graves, the northern one belongs to Liaquat Ali Khan, who died as Prime Minister of Pakistan. The extreme southern grave belongs to Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar. In the middle lies buriedNurul Amin, who rose to be the Vice-President of Pakistan. All these graves are made of Italian white marble, and they are of the box type, like the sarcophagus of Jinnah, placed on a triple base. But the sides of these graves are tapering inward while that of Jinnah are diverging outward. These are all plain graves, except that of Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, which has a basal floral ornamentation.

The Mohatta Palace

The Mohatta Palace is located in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. It was built by Shivratan Chandraratan Mohatta, an ambitious self-made businessman from Marwar as his summer home in 1927. The architect of the palace was Agha Ahmed Hussain.^[1] However, Mohatta could enjoy this building for only about two decades before independence of Pakistan and he left Karachi for India. He built the Palace in the tradition of stone palaces in Rajasthan, using pink Jodhpur stone in combination with the local yellow stone from Gizri. The amalgam gave the palace a distinctive presence in an elegant neighbourhood, characterised by Mughal architecture which was located not far from the sea.

 

The palace has an area of 18,500 sq ft (1,720 m²) and its facade is trimmed with windows, stone brackets, spandrels, domes, balustrades with floral motifs and exquisite railings. There are nine domes, with a centre dome in the middle; while the windows in the front portion opening out into the garden are of blue colour and those in the rear area are arched windows with stained glass. The palace has large stately rooms designed for entertainment on the ground floor and more private facilities on the first floor, where there is a terrace provided with a shade from intense sunlight. The palace is solely made up of teak wood with a polished staircase, long corridors and doors opening within doors. The “barsati” (terrace) of the Mohatta Palace had a beautiful family temple dedicated to Hindu God, lord Shiva.

 

Mohatta Palace was a luxurious home built in the late 1920s, consisting of 18,500 sq.yards. The elegant palace is built on different levels and was a summer house for Mr.Mohatta for two decades before he left for India in 1947. There are three levels, basement, ground floor, first floor till you reach the roof. The basement that lies on the north side of the building is quite small and comprises a staircase going downwards towards a hot water pool chamber which has a connected changing room. They say it had a hot and cold water system attached, which would supply the water to the pool. Near the pool chamber are small ventilators, two on each side which may have been used as a source of sunlight and letting out steam. Similarly there was a door leading to a secret tunnel that leads from the grounds of the palace all the way to a subterranean Hindu temple less than a kilometer away. This tunnel was apparently built to provide a safe passage for the Hindu wife of Shivratan Chandratan Mohatta for her daily worship.

 

This tunnel still exists today, though over time it has caved in, and the entrance is blocked from both ends. Upon stepping inside the building is a corridor which connects to each room situated on the ground floor. The ground floor contains large stately rooms designed for entertainment two towards the right side of the entrance (north), two towards the left (south) and one at the back. The movement inside the building is through the great entrance into a spacious corridor that runs around a huge hall with ornate ceilings and a staircase on the South side.

There is a large square hall with seven openings leading into a corridor. The hall acts as a datum and around it the corridors are connected to the rooms where different activities are held. On the south between the two rooms is a solid teak wood, polished staircase connecting ground floor and first floor.

 

On each corner of the palace are octagonal towers, in which only two near the front entrance have spiral staircases which go up to the roof. At the far end, opposite the entrance is a room for entertainment which has few stairs on each side leading directly into the grounds at the back of the palace.

When viewed from outside, the ground floor has two very ornate windows on either side of the entrance consisting of three shutters in each. The same windows are on the north and south side as well, on either side of the stairs which lead from the rooms to the grounds. The octagonal towers have five windows each. In the same way there is a protruding ‘chhajja’ which goes all around the ground floor to provide shade.

 

The first floor has private facilities unlike the ground floor. Although this floor also has a large hall in the centre having ten doors which open into the corridor that frames it on two sides (north and south) and private rooms on the other sides (east and west). There are four large bedrooms with attached restrooms and dressing rooms. Each bedroom has two openings, more like ‘doors opening into doors’. The staircase on the south ends on this floor, leaving a passageway to the left which connects to the octagonal tower staircase that leads up to the roof. There is a similar staircase on the opposite end which leads up to the roof. Whereas the remaining two towers remain disconnected, just giving an outdoor view from the windows to each floor.

 

Similarly there are windows situated right above the ones on the ground floor giving a view of the vast grounds below. Also there are three openings into the large terrace on the first floor, which overlooks the Arabian Sea. Moreover, the roof top is perhaps the most interesting part of the building, giving an aerial view of the surrounding neighbourhood and the beautiful landscaping done in below.

The rooftop is connected by staircases coming all the way up from the ground floor, through the frontal north and south octagonal towers. The four octagonal towers are topped by chattris. In the middle of the towers, on both of the north and south side are dainty three portioned, rectangular chattris. Altogether there are nine domes, with a centre dome in the middle and smaller four domes around it. This is slightly elevated and is like a room overlooking the rooftop. It has stairs on the north and south side and the five domes are interconnected.

 

What many do not know about the Mohatta Palace is the secret underground tunnel that leads from the grounds of the palace all the way to a subterranean Hindu temple less than a kilometer away. This tunnel was apparently built to provide a safe passage for the Hindu wife of Shivratan Chandratan Mohatta to go for her daily worship. The tunnel still exists today, though over time it has caved in, and the entrance is blocked from both ends.

Legend

Various stories allege the presence of supernatural happenings at the Mohatta Palace. Some museum guides acknowledge that the building may be haunted, citing various incidents where objects have been moved from their original place, or shifted about. There are also rumours that the palace is haunted by ghosts of the British Raj era with guards having “felt” the presence of these spirits during the night. These claims however remain unverified and the guards themself claim that no serious harm has been done.^[2]

Exterior details

Mohatta palace is an elaborate building with intricate details which are present in almost every portion of this magnificent building. These are in the form of carvings. The delicate designs include bird’s wings in the large windows, situated in the top right and left corners of the arches.

There are also peacock motifs in the stonework and they are found around each of the nine domes. Also there has been a lot of use of the scallop shape in upwards and downward positions around the lower areas, in the form of a strip going around the building and on top of the first and second floor windows that protrude outwards. There are also many floral motifs around the surrounding wall, between each scallop, such as marigolds. Hibiscus flowers too are found lightly carved between rectangular shapes underneath all the windows, which are on the sides of the doorways.

Similarly each window and doorway is framed by two large, intricately carved marigolds at the top right and left side of the arches.

Moreover the balustrade terrace, rooftop and octagonal towers have dainty knobs and a rectangular box like shape chiselled into each baluster.

Furthermore there are decorative brackets underneath each window, projecting ‘chhajja’, entrance ways, domes, all around the building which make it look more delicate to ones eye. Also each of the columns around the building has motifs and flowers engraved horizontally between spaces. These go all around the building in a horizontal line.

Similarly the five domes of the barsati have lines etched into them, giving them more form and texture, unlike the octagonal towers which are just plain except for the peacock carving which is present in all of the domes.

After Independence[edit]

After Mohatta’s departure to India, the Government of Pakistan acquired the building to house the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1947.^[1] Fatima Jinnah, the sister of the Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, moved into it in 1964.^[1] In the ’60s Mohatta Palace was dubbed Qasre-e-Fatima, becoming the hub of her presidential campaign against President Ayub Khan. After her questionable sudden death, her sister Shireen Jinnah moved in to occupy the ground floor for many years. With her death in 1980, the palace was sealed.

Museum[edit]

In 1995 it was purchased by the Government of Sindh for its conversion into a Museum devoted to the arts of Pakistan. As a result of the interest taken by the Government of Sindh who took over the ownership of the property and appointed an independent board of trustees headed by the Governor, to formulate recommendations on how best to adapt and use the palace. The trust was established to manage the property and ensure that it would not be sold or utilised for commercial or any other purpose other than that stipulated in the trust deed.Funds for the acquisition of collections for the museum and the construction of an extension will be raised by the trustees through private and public grants, donations and other fund raising activities.The Museum formally opened in 1999. Behind the building can be found a small collection of “English” statues such as Queen Victoria, soldiers of the Raj.

Timings

• Tuesday – Sunday 11.00 am to 6.00 pm
• Friday Prayer break between 1.00 pm – 3.00 pm
• Monday closed

Transport

The following public transport is available to the museum.

• Bus: No 20
• Minibus: N and W30
• Coaches: Super Hasan Zai and Khan Coach. W-19.

Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Muhammad Ali Jinnah^[a] ( Audio (help·info), born Mahomedali Jinnahbhai; 25 December 1876 – 11 September 1948) was a lawyer, politician, and the founder of Pakistan.^[1] Jinnah served as leader of the All-India Muslim League from 1913 until Pakistan’s independence on 14 August 1947, and as Pakistan’s first Governor-General from independence until his death. He is revered in Pakistan as Quaid-i-Azam^[b] (Great Leader) and Baba-i-Qaum^[c] (Father of the Nation). His birthday is observed as a national holiday.^[2][3]

 

Born in Karachi and trained as a barrister at Lincoln’s Inn in London, Jinnah rose to prominence in the Indian National Congress in the first two decades of the 20th century. In these early years of his political career, Jinnah advocated Hindu–Muslim unity, helping to shape the 1916 Lucknow Pact between the Congress and the All-India Muslim League, a party in which Jinnah had also become prominent. Jinnah became a key leader in the All India Home Rule League, and proposed a fourteen-point constitutional reform plan to safeguard the political rights of Muslims should a united British India become independent. In 1920, however, Jinnah resigned from the Congress when it agreed to follow a campaign of satyagraha, or non-violent resistance, advocated by the influential leader, Mohandas Gandhi.

 

By 1940, Jinnah had come to believe that Indian Muslims should have their own state. In that year, the Muslim League, led by Jinnah, passed the Lahore Resolution, demanding a separate nation. During the Second World War, the League gained strength while leaders of the Congress were imprisoned, and in the elections held shortly after the war, it won most of the seats reserved for Muslims. Ultimately, the Congress and the Muslim League could not reach a power-sharing formula for a united India, leading all parties to agree to separate independence for a predominately Hindu India, and for a Muslim-majority state, to be called Pakistan.

 

As the first Governor-General of Pakistan, Jinnah worked to establish the new nation’s government and policies, and to aid the millions of Muslim migrants who had emigrated from the new nation of India to Pakistan after the partition, personally supervising the establishment of refugee camps. Jinnah died at age 71 in September 1948, just over a year after Pakistan gained independence from the British Raj. He left a deep and respected legacy in Pakistan, though he is less well thought of in India. According to his biographer, Stanley Wolpert, he remains Pakistan’s greatest leader.

Karachi History

Karachi (Sindhi: ڪراچي, Urdu: کراچی‎, Karāčī, pronounced [kəˈrɑːˌtʃi] ()) is the largest and most populous metropolitan city of Pakistan and its main seaport and financial centre, as well as the capital of Sindh province. The city has an estimated population of 23.5 million people as of April 2013, and a density of nearly 6,000 people per square kilometre (15,500 per square mile).^[7] Karachi is the 3rd-largest city in the world by population within city limits^[8] and the 11th-largest urban agglomeration.^[9] It is Pakistan’s centre of banking, industry, economic activity and trade and is home to Pakistan’s largest corporations, including those involved in textiles, shipping, automotive industry, entertainment, the arts, fashion, advertising, publishing, software development and medical research. The city is a hub of higher education in South Asia and the Muslim world.^[10]

 

Karachi is ranked as a beta world city.^[11][12] It was the capital of Pakistan until Islamabad was constructed as a capital in order to spread development evenly across the country and to prevent it from being concentrated in Karachi.^[13] Karachi is the location of the Port of Karachi and Port Bin Qasim, two of the region’s largest and busiest ports. After the independence of Pakistan, the city population increased dramatically when hundreds of thousands of Muhajirs from India and other parts of South Asia came to settle in Karachi.^[14]

 

The city is located in the south of the country, along the coastline meeting the Arabian Sea. It is spread over 3,527 km² (1,362 sq mi) in area.^[15][16] It is known as the “City of Lights” (روشنیوںکا شہر)^[17][18] and “The Bride of the Cities” (عروس البلاد) for its liveliness, and the “City of the Quaid” (شہرِ قائد), having been the birth and burial place of Quaid-e-Azam, the Great Leader, (Muhammad Ali Jinnah), the founder of Pakistan, who made the city his home after Pakistan’s independence from the British Raj on 14 August 1947.