The Karachi Walla

Originally published for Dawn.com I was at my apartment in Clifton, waiting for a friend. He did not show up on time, so I rang him up. My friend told me that he was here but the apartment chowkidar was not letting his Vespa enter the compound. I went downstairs and resolved the matter. Climbing […]

These guys charge 100-250 for a car wash. Behind Irani Consulate, you could even see them from Do Talwar but it is when you drive from Mohatta Palace to Do Talwar that you see them waving in your face. Draped in Zainab Market clothing with yellow buckets for carrying water, you cant miss them even […]

It looked like a typical July Day with lots of clouds but no rain. However the scene changed right before the sunset. There was thunder, there was lightning and there was rain. I was at roadside cafe. All the staff took refuge under the roof except for one waiter who was from Thar Desert. He […]

The article was originally published on Dawn.com She had a name befitting of a Mughal princess. A young photographer, she had arrived in the city on a yearlong assignment. She wrote to me saying that she wanted to see colonial Karachi and was interested in joining me on my trips to the city. I was […]

The article was originally published on Dawn Blogs The hustle and bustle of Karachi often overshadows its historical significance, but amidst its smog-filled dingy streets and crumbling edifices lies a city full of intriguing stories. The construction of a port and other infrastructure fueled Karachi’s growth, which attracted not only businessmen but scholars, artists and […]