 The
commercial hub, the
most cosmopolitan,
and the most dynamic
urban centre of
Pakistan is the city
of Karachi. As the
largest city of
Pakistan, it
presents a
kaleidoscope of
ethnic groups of all
regions of Pakistan,
representing
different vernacular
languages and
cultural traditions.
As the most
industrialized city
of Pakistan, you
will find here an
exciting mix of old
and new—bustling old
bazaars and modern
shopping centers;
narrow winding
streets with
historic buildings
representing
stylistic variations
from
Domestic-Gothic,
Indo-Italianate to
Anglo-Mughal and
even Mughal-revival,
along with wide
boulevards and
contemporary
multistory
structures in
International style.
Its modern factories
produce state of the
art machine
products, at the
same time the
informal sector,
consisting of
traditional
crafts-persons,
produces handicrafts
of extraordinary
finesse and beauty.
This is the city
which offers a
remarkable variety
of sights and
activities: sandy,
sunny beaches,
deep-sea fishing and
yachting; a wide
variety of
Pakistani, East
Asian and Western
cuisine from the
most expensive and
sumptuous served at
international
standard restaurants
to the
best-value-for-money
local delicacies
found in food
bazaars and
road-side stalls;
rich cultural
offerings through
its unique eclectic
architecture facing
winding crowded
streets, and art
exhibitions of
acclaimed and new
artists held in the
many art galleries
of the city.
Shopping in Karachi
is one of the most
exciting
activities—if
undertaken as a
journey of
discovery—in its
quaint bazaars with
their old world
ambiance. You can
find hand-knotted
carpets or dhurries
of traditional and
innovative designs
and an extraordinary
range of
hand-crafted items.
From beautifully
executed hand-made
gold filigree work
to vintage
embroidery,
hand-block printing
to wonderfully
finished leather
goods made from the
best of Pakistani
leather in a variety
of subtle and
vibrant colors. Gift
items made from
unusual jade-green
onyx and
wood-streaked stone
as well as carved
wood items can be
found at
unbelievably low
prices.
Traditionally a city
of migrants, Karachi
draws people from
all parts of
Pakistan as does a
magnet and its work
force provides
offerings from many
different
regions—from all
provinces of
Pakistan,
Afghanistan and
Bangladesh etc. The
selection of local
and imported items,
machine made and
handcrafted,
available in Karachi
can hardly be
equaled elsewhere in
Pakistan.
Its bazaars are
unparalleled for the
variety of
merchandise they
offer. From the most
sophisticated
 designer outlets to
the modestly- priced
and inexpensive
garments of every
size and description
can be found here.
The best of locally
produced fabrics and
garments can
successfully compete
with imported items
which are also found
in abundance in
Karachi's many
shopping centers.
Some of the
country's best
fashion designers
have their outlets
in Karachi, many of
whom have received
international
acclaim.
Some of the best
universities and
colleges of the
country are located
in the city; and
Karachi offers a
wide array of
artistic, cultural
and literary
activities. There
are over 30 big and
small drama and
dance groups,
providing a range of
performances from
formal to street
theatre (natak). The
Arts Council of
Pakistan, Finance
and Trade Centre
auditorium, and
foreign cultural
centers e.g.
Alliance Francaise,
The British Council,
Goethe Institute,
and Pakistan
American Cultural
Centre have played
an active role in
promoting theatre
and dance
performances. While
in Karachi keep a
look out for
cultural events
organized by
first-class hotels,
where performers are
often flown-in from
various parts of the
world to perform to
Karachi audiences.
Several literary
groups include
Bazm-e-llm-o-Danish,
Sindhi Adabi Sangat
and the literary
committees of Arts
Council, Karachi
Press Club and
Karachi Gymkhana,
which hold literary
evenings, mushaira
(poetry recitals)
and discussions.
Sports activities
thrive in the city.
The best golf
courses in the
country are found in
Karachi and there is
plenty of
opportunity to play
squash and tennis,
swim in the sea or
in
international-standard
swimming pools.
Pakistan is well
known for the world
champions it has
produced in the
fields of cricket
and squash. The PIA
Squash Complex at
Kashmir Road has
played a pivotal
role in the
development of
squash in the
country. Streets of
Nazimabad are still
remembered as the
playing fields which
groomed many of the
famous cricketers of
Pakistan. National
obsession with
cricket is evident
in many of
 Karachi's
streets when on
holidays and at
night the lanes and
grounds are
converted into
cricket pitches by
the young people of
the area.For
those who become
part of the social
set, the privileged
classes of Karachi
offer a round of
parties and
festivities, held to
this day as a legacy
of the Raj:
Christmas and New
Year, Valentine's
Day and Hallowe'en
are all celebrated
with great fervour.
Many of the social
set organize balls
and parties to raise
funds for charitable
causes, which are
open to the select,
willing to pay the
ticket fee.
For the general
public there are
camel rides by the
sea-side, and the
unique two-wheeled
donkey cart race
organized every
Thursday—an event
not likely to be
found
elsewhere—starting
from the historic
quarter of Lyari the
race is carried
through the old part
of Karachi and ends
at Shara-e-Faisal.
Basant, the spring
festival, is
increasingly
celebrated as in
Lahore, when a large
number of populace
turns out to fly
colourful kites at
the end of February.
Karachi is well
connected to the
rest of the country
and to the world.
With the highest
literacy rate in the
country, many of
Karachi residents
speak or understand
English, and
belonging as they do
to a cosmopolitan
culture, are keen to
help visitors in the
city.
The city itself is
rather spread out
having grown along
five identified
corridors:
stretching over 35
km. from the port in
the west to the edge
of the Steel Mill
Township in east and
approximately the
same distance
between the sea in
the south and
Surjani Town in
north. Most of the
outlying areas
consist of housing
areas while the
centre of the town,
which the tourist is
more likely to
visit, is limited to
an approximate
circle of 12 km. |
