Travel Guide Karachi

Karachi is the most populous, cosmopolitan and dynamic city in the country. It was chosen as the capital of Pakistan when it was created in 1947 before the authorities preferred Rawalpindi in 1959, then finally Islamabad a year later, as the twin cities were more central. Karachi was originally a fishing village called Kalachi-Jo-goth. In the 18th century, the village became a small centre for the exchange of goods, which became increasingly important from 1854, when British settlers decided to modernise the port. Together with the then mayor, the British authorities also launched a major project to beautify the city. In a 1942 brochure published by the American army for its soldiers stationed in the region during the Second World War, the author then referred to Karachi as the "Paris of the East" and praised its many attractions and cultural institutions. At the time, Karachi had only about 400,000 inhabitants. The demographic balance was suddenly disrupted at the time of the partition in 1947, when thousands of Urdu-speaking Muslim refugees (the mohajirs) arrived from India. The city will then experience other significant waves of immigration (Pakistanis but also Afghans, Iranians and Bengalis). Today, Karachi has nearly 20 million inhabitants and its population growth is spectacular. Rapid and savage urbanization and political-ethnic tensions that have developed over time have led to violence that has changed the face of the city to the point that Karachi is sometimes portrayed as one of the most dangerous places in the world. But the curious (and cautious!) visitor will find there above all a broth of life, culture and art, unusual places, an incredible energy and inhabitants who despite the dangers and difficulties take advantage of everything that Karachi has to offer them.