City Landmarks – Karachi Goan Association Gymkhana

Goans make a vibrant part of diverse social fabric of Karachi. After the conquest of Sindh by Charles Napier, Karachi became an important hub of trade and commerce. Goans, an enterprising community found it an ideal setting where they could prosper and contribute to the development of the fast expanding city. The community is known for their rich traditions in Sports, Music and theater and indeed they brought new flavor to the growing exuberance of the city social scene. Karachi Goan Association Gymkhana and other landmarks spread across the city are testimony to their lifestyles which added a unique flavor to the diverse culture of the port city.

The Karachi Walla visited KGA Gymkhana on an overcast day in February. It is situated close to old Numaish Chowrangi on M.A.Jinnah road. I found the door closed but my friend was able to open it and we drove inside the huge compound. Later I found out that the matches for the day had been canceled due to unexpected winter rain. Otherwise the central ground which could be used for Cricket, Hockey and Soccer had been very much in demand. On one end of the ground was a small but aesthetically pleasing pavilion. Inside of the pavilion could be transformed into a badminton court and there were few tennis courts adjacent to the pavilion. A small canteen has been setup near the main entrance to the compound. In a room behind the canteen, Karate classes are conducted thrice a week.

A concrete jungle of multistory buildings has sprawled around the compound. We walked around the pavilion. From an apartment complex behind the pavilion someone threw garbage inside the compound. Despicable.