The Karachi Walla

One of the things people reminisce the most about yesteryear Karachi is the luxury to walk its streets freely. It’s not just the mental block since some of us don’t have an option but to walk. The new localities in Karachi lack infrastructure such as footpaths, zebra crossings etc which make an area conducive for […]

By the start of 17th century, the port in Thatta was dysfunctional due to the accumulation of silt. Sindhi merchants who operated from there decided to setup a new port on the shores of present day Karachi. The built a fortified settlement which had two gates, Kharadar and Mithadar. Kharadar opened towards the sea and […]

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. […]

  Naryan Pura, an old neighborhood in Ranchor Lines is epitome of Karachi’s diversity. For centuries, Hindus, Christians and Sikhs have lived next to each other, celebrating each other’s festival as their own. The neighborhood has three temples, three churches and an impressive Gurdwara. KD, a friend of mine from work was showing us around […]

A vanishing scene. There are seven to eight shops in Dhol Gali off Napier road. Most of them have been selling tablas and dholaks for decades. The craft has been transferred from father to son and so on so forth. Though tablas and dholak are still very much present on display, other music instruments have […]