The Karachi Walla

The construction on Karachi port took place in 1850s. Most of the stone structures that you see in Kemari these days were part of the developments that took place at that time. Some of them were used as Karachi Port offices – Mules Mansion for instance – and some were used for housing custom officers […]

“The texture that you see here, it cannot be created on a set. It is something extraordinary.” I am at Roxy cinema with a filmmaker who is evaluating different locations for a project. The first thing that he notices and talks about is the texture of the building and what’s in there; the still life […]

Some people might have this misconception that Defence and Clifton are the most happening parts of the town. Lyari trumps them both any given day. It is as if we are comparing Morata with Salah on current form for their respective clubs. A lot of people that I have acquainted with recently in Lyari have […]

The Dark side of the city. The Old Slaughterhouse was one of the worst hit areas during infamous gang wars of Lyari. You can see it on the walls. You can sense it on the faces. Old Slaughterhouse has been home to Hindus and Christian workers of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation for almost a century now. […]

Had Ghalib found himself in present day Karachi, he probably would have taken refuge in Bedil Library. At a walking distance from Char Minar Chowrangi,the library on second floor of Sharafabad Community hall transports you to a different era when people had different priorities and sensitivities. The library is named after Abdul Qadir Bedil, Persian […]