INAUGURATION OF NEW 12.6KM ROAD FROM SUPERHIGHWAY TO SHARAE FAISAL.

Karachi July 28: Governor of Sindh Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan has said that the technical impediments in the project of Mass Transit System for Karachi had been resolved after recent directives from the President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari and the project will now start soon. The new road from Superhighway to Jinnah Terminal Sharae Faisal is a gift for the people of whole country. Linking with Corridor-III It would provide great convenience to citizens. Pakistan Army especially the former Corps Commanders, GOC Malir Cantt., played vital role in its completion.
He expressed these views while addressing a ceremony at Malir Cantt., after inaugurating the new 12.60km long Shahra linking Superhighway to Shahrae Faisal via Malir Cantonment. Station Commander Malir Cantt., Brigadier Nuzhat Hayat, DCO Karachi Javed Hanif, MNA/MPAs, Town Nazims, elected representatives, civil and army officers and large number of people were present on this occasion Earlier the Governor of Sindh along with City Nazim unveiled the plaque of the project at Malir Cantt., and Toll Plaza. Governor of Sindh in his address also acknowledged the contribution of former President of Pakistan General Pervez Musharraf who had resolved the funding issue for the project.
He said that this was also one of those projects of Karachi which had been left in pending due to some reasons but now he felt much pleasure that the project has been completed and would provide great convenience to people travelling on this corridor.
Governor of Sindh also congratulated City Nazim and Malir Cantonment for completion of the project. He said that under Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal, City Government had been doing excellent work. The completion of many mega projects such as Corridor-I &II and Malir River Bridge is the proof of their dedication and team spirit. The under construction Corridor-III is another important project which would provide more convenience and travel facilities to citizens.Governor of Sindh said that on comparing the past and present of Karachi one can easily note the extraordinary works that has been done during last four years which has changed the map of the Karachi. He said that other mega projects conceived by present city government for Karachi including Elevated Expressway and Mass Transit System will also commence soon.
Speaking on this occasion Nazim Karachi Syed Mustafa Kamal said that the project was conceived much earlier and it had 100 percent funding from the federal government. The construction of road would decrease the travel time to 20 minutes between Sharae Faisal and Superhighway. He said that the CDGK has completed countless development and social projects, which might be lined up for inauguration by one project per hour. He added that this new road was completely constructed and operational from this very moment of inauguration because we do not inaugurate projects unless they are completed.
It is pertinent to mention that the CDGK has completed this 12.6-km long road linking Super Highway to Shahra-e Faisal via Malir Cantonment. The avenue has dual carriageway with three lanes on both side and one storm water drain. It was a federally funded project worth Rs 1012.61 million.

INAUGURATION PHOTOS

GOVERNOR OF SINDH AND CITY NAZIM INAUGURATES CNG BUS PROJECT.

Governor of Sindh Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan and City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal inaugurated the CNG Bus Pilot Project at Surjani Town on Monday. The Governor inspected the CNG Bus Terminal and also travelled through a CNG bus on this occasion.
Earlier while addressing the inaugural ceremony Governor of Sindh Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan congratulated the citizens of Karachi for getting just another gift in the form of CNG buses. He also paid tribute to City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal under whose leadership the city government could perform such a marvelous work during the last four years.
He said that the City Nazim Mustafa Kamal has through his services proved that he is a true leader who has served the citizens with great fervor and spirit. Today, he has achieved his one more goal of providing the citizens with respectable and comfortable means of transport in shape of dedicated CNG buses. The governor added further that the city is most important part of the country while the City Nazim has ensured with his utmost dedication that the city must keep the wheels moving.
In his address, Nazim Karachi Syed Mustafa Kamal appealed to the President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari and the Prime Minister of Pakistan Yousuf Raza Gillani to help stop the bureaucracy at the federal and provincial level from creating impediments ahead of city’s development projects.
Kamal said further that hundreds of studies have been done so far but still the city is lacking its Mass Transit Program due to obstacles that the corrupt bureaucracy had always created. Similarly, certain other viable public projects such as Bus Rapid System, Light Rail System and Circular Railway are still pending.
He said that the CNG bus project is totally funded by City Government. Without taking even a single penny for the project from the federal or provincial government, we have spent Rs 250million on the purchase of these dedicated CNG buses while we have also allocated funds for purchase of another fleet of 100 buses in next budget.
Nazim Karachi said that in past diesel buses were introduced in Karachi in the name of CNG buses while we have completed all homework before starting the CNG bus operation. All required infrastructure was provided to these buses so that the project could be run smoothly and without any hurdle. He said.
Nazim Karachi said that it is hard for a city government to undertake a huge project like mass transit system. In all over the world the MST was done by the federal governments.
He however called it unfortunate that the city of Karachi despite of all the studies still deprived the Mass Transit Facility.
He said that Karachi is the key city of Pakistan. It provides livelihood to labors from all over the country. We will continue development process in the city, he added.
The pilot project contains 50 dedicated CNG buses that would be plying on two routes initially. Two different manufacturers with 25 buses each have manufactured these CNG buses locally. The CDGK has already paid full cost of these 50 buses.
The purpose of plying dedicated CNG buses is to ensure most modern urbanized system of transport with complete self-esteem of the commuters. In this regard, the CDGK has already put to operate the e-ticketing facility, as there would be no bus conductor. The passengers should buy under self-service traveling coupons from e-ticket booths established at different locations on the prescribed routes. Provincial ministers, MNA, MPA, Town Nazims, DCO Karachi and other dignitaries also attended the program.

Deaf Hair Cutting

Tribute to Mustafa Kamal…

You gotta admit. Karachi has been transformed over the past six years. I remember Karachi in 2001 when I left for my hiatus abroad. It used to be a stinking nightmare. Buses, rickshaws and cars honked with frustration in long queues of traffic jams. Pollution hung like a pall in the sky with barely any vegetation in the city. Roads were broken and potholed in all areas. Curbs and footpaths were non-existent or left in ruins. Sewerage water overflowed in a majority of the neighbourhoods. Water was in short supply and tankers used to ply everywhere. Just thinking of those frustrating times is enough to give one a headache.
Contrast that image to now. Traffic flows freely in most areas thanks to signal-free corridors. A lot of major arteries of the city have been re-carpeted… something that had not been carried out in the city for decades. Most of the roads and streets look defined now, with properly constructed curbsides and footpaths. The sewerage system of the city has been fixed in a majority of areas and you dont find overflowing gutters everywhere anymore. A lot of trees have been planted in the city and amenity plots that used to be garbage dumps have been converted into parks. The credit for this vision and for the transformation of this city from an urban disaster to a strident megapolis can largely go to one man: Mustafa Kamal.

MAZAR-E-QUAID Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Quaid-e-Azam`s Mausoleum is a prominent and impressive landmark of Karachi. Designed by Architect Yahya Merchant, this white marble Mausoleum with its curved arches and copper grills was completed in 1970. Its cool interior reflects the green of a four-tiered crystal chandelier gifted by the peoples Republic of China.There is a large park surrounding the mausoleum. It is a must place to be visiited. The Mazar-e-Quaid was built in honour of Mohammad Ali Jinnah. He was an Indian-Muslim politician & the leader of the "All India Muslim League" who went on to found Pakistan & served as its first Governor General. The Pakistani people lovingly refer to him as "Quaid-e-Azam" (Great Leader). In the 1940s Jinnah suffered from tuberculosis and on 11th September 1948 he finally succumbed to the disease & also lunge cancer.This masterpiece of white marble was completed in the 1970s & is located in the centre of the city ontop of a small hill, surrounded by well-pruned & lush gardens. It's a very calm & tranquil place that we indeed didn't expect to find in the middle of such a hectic & noisy city. There were families having picnics & couples going for a walk.Enter the hall that is guarded at all times & feel the understated serenity & quiet admiration of Pakistan's people. The coffin is surrounded by a fence and his actual grave is a few meters below ground. The graves of his sister & also the 1st Prime Minister of Pakistan (Liaqat Ali Khan) are nearby. Unfortunately we missed the ceremonial changing of the guards as we were in a hurry, but if you have some time I definitely recommend spending about an hour here.

Quote:"No nation can rise to the height of glory unless your women are side by side with you. It is a crime against humanity that our women are shut up within 4 walls as prisoners. There is no sanction anywhere for the deplorable condition our women have to live in." This sounds like an interesting chap... I would've liked to have a cup of tea with him sometime...

THE CONOCARPUS

The Conocarpus Erectus — a tree that has taken over Karachi like a storm! A tree? well yes. Karachi’s climate is rather hot and dry. It does not rain here much and there is not a lot of vegetation that can survive here easily without much help and still look fresh and green. Not the Conocarpus! This is one tree that has made its presence felt in the city over the last two years. You can see it everywhere now… especially greening the areas around Shahrah-e-Faisal and Karsaz. But also in many different areas. Bin Qasim Park, Beach Park, Khayaban-e-Hafiz in DHA, University Road near Askari Park, etc. etc. Not sure how it got here, but most probably the CDGK had some part to play in introducing this species to Karachi. And some of us can be pretty resistant to such new stuff… I heard a rumor going around recently that this tree causes diseases :-O Nope. Nothing can be further from the truth. Maybe we should spend a minute and understand it more

Conocarpus Erectus is not really a tree, but a rather large woody shrub growing up to 40 feet tall. It originates in North America from the edges of swamplands in Florida, which is why it has often times been confused to be a mangrove. It is not a mangrove though, but is a very hardy plant that can survive the hot weather, bad air, bad soils and frequent droughts associated with urban environments very well. Its leaves are very thick and leathery which help it retain its health in the heat, and the plant also grows very well in saline soils. In fact, its salt tolerance is so good that it has been used for the reclaimation of salinity damaged lands. All these qualities make it an ideal plant for Karachi.
Conocarpus has also been used in other regions of the world. This tree-like shrub can be trimmed in a lot of ways and is often used for road-side medians, hedgeparking lots, screening s, and other landscaping purposes. Kuwait is one country that has made extensive use of the Conocarpus for its landscaping. Another is Hawaii, where it is so prevalent now that it has become naturalized.
In Karachi you can find the Conocarpus in a lot of areas. Particularly in DHA, the soil is naturally very saline (since most of it is reclaimed land) and Conocarpus thrives in DHA much better than any other trees. It has been used to particularly good effect on Khayaban-e-Hafiz where a lot of people have used it to screen their houses from the road. It has also been put to good use on roadside medians on Shahrah-e-Faisal and in the Karsaz area. On the water-front road now, the CDGK has planted lots of saplings where it should be able to grow very well. In fact, it may be a very good idea to plant it all over our beachside. That would make it look very attractive.

If you are a greenery fan, I would suggest that you should introduce yourself and your neighbourhood to the Conocarpus. Make sure that you keep individual trees at least 5 feet apart so that they do not smother each other. Some watering may be helpful in order to help the plant take hold, but otherwise, it should do pretty well on its own. Here’s to a greener Karachi!

ASIA's LARGEST KARACHI FOOD STREET‏

New Food Street in Karachi ……..near Karachi Beach …… PORT GRAND RETAIL & ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX-Karachi Port ----80% work already been completed.(Neti Jetty Food Street)

COMMAND CONTROL CENTRE

City District Government Karachi
Wireless Video Security Surveillance Network
(Command and Control Room)

City District Government Karachi launched Wireless Hybrid Video Security Surveillance Project in January 2008 and moved with great speed to complete the first phase in June 2008. The whole project took only six months to complete with all International standards.

Wireless Video Security Surveillance project is unique and this is the first of its kind in Pakistan.

The wireless network coverage area is 36 Sq Km, with fiber optic back up, mainly 50-54 cameras are covering two main arteries of City known as Corridor I signal free Corridor ( Site Habib Bank to Karsaz bridge Shahra Faisal ) & Corridor II signal free corridor ( Nagan Chorangi to Drigh Road Bridge Shara Faisal )

OBJECTIVES:

The Broader objective of the Projects:

1. Improve the physical security of Citizen through video security cameras.


2. Monitor the traffic flow and clear congestion on the roads and introduce the traffic management system through world best available technology


3. Guard the CDGK infrastructure such as flyovers, under passes and bridges.


4. Keep the general crime under control.


5. Mobile CDGK work force effectively to resolve the civil work issue and speed up its civil work in order to complete and delivered the project on time.


6. Closely coordinate and work with Traffic police along with Sind crime Police in command and control center in order to response to law & order situation effectively.


7. In Phase 2 of this project we will install LPR (License Plate Recognition) Biometric Face Recognition and RFID, it will be very easy to identify movements on streets of individuals, cars and other type of transit measure. Also it will be difficult for anyone to evade the law enforcement.

CONCLUSION:

This entire project was inspired by the fact that it is the need of the time. Technology if properly implemented can very effectively give results which would have been impossible to accomplish. The CDGK has always believed in this method of delivery where a proper system is placed so that the continuity is guaranteed and professionals are bought in to do things effectively. This project will eventually provide so much security, information and safety to citizens of Karachi that it will not only bring down crime rate but improve the overall delivery and performance of Public officials. We believe that this projects growth is unlimited and a pillar in any city’s environment given the current condition of the world.

SHOPPING

There are a great number of shopping places in Karachi, ranging from the traditional bazaar to the modern shopping malls. A first-time visitor should try and visit the bazaars, The bazaars usually consist of many small vendors selling a variety of products from accessories to clothes to food and drink. In addition, there are larger stores which are more specific in their products. Also one would find that the bazaars are a more culturally enriching experience. Karachi is the largest city in Pakistan and the capital of Sindh Province. It is also the primary commercial city in Pakistan. From dining out to shopping, vibrant nightlife to sunny beaches, and activities such as golf, horse racing, deep-sea angling, and yachting, this cosmopolitan city with its fast-paced lifestyle keeps visitors entertained with a variety of attractions and activities. Karachi is a city populated by 20 million residents, recording itself as among the largest metropolises in the world. The city is enriched by the rivers Malir and Liyari and several small islands protect Karachi’s natural harbour. Karachi focuses mainly on the industries of textile manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, steel and automobiles. The city is also known to be a software outsourcing hub in Pakistan.

PLACES TO VISIT

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS

• Mazar-e-Quaid - tomb of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan
  
• Mohatta Palace and museum
  
• Karachi Port Authority's Water Jet fountain
  
• Masjid e Tooba - largest single-domed mosque in the world

BEACHES AND WATERFRONT

• Clifton Beach
  
• Beach Park
  
• Jehangir Kothari Parade
  
• Hawke's Bay Beach - breeding ground for endangered turtles
  
• Paradise Point - rock promontory in the sea with a natural arch
  
• Sandspit Beach
  
• French Beach

MUSEUMS

• Pakistan Air Force Museum
  
• Karachi Expo Centre
  
• PIA Planetarium
  
• Pakistan Maritime Museum
  
• National Museum of Pakistan
  

COLONIAL BUILDINGS

• Merewether Tower
  
• Frere Hall
  
• Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Karachi
  
• Sindh High Court
  
• Empress Market
  

ISLANDS

• Clifton Oyster Rocks
  
• Bhit Shah Island
  
• Buddo Island
  
• Bundal Island
  
• Churma Island Manora Island

CLUBS

• Karachi Boat Club
  
• Creek Club
  
• Marina Club Arabian sea country club
  
• DHA Golf club
  
• Sindh club
  
• Karachi club
  

AMUSEMENT PARKS

• Go Aish Adventure Park
  
• Bin Qasim Park (Old Clifton)
  
• Safari Park (University Road)
  
• Aladdin Park (Rashid Minhas Road)
  
• Sindbad
  
• PIA Planetarium
  
• Karachi Zoological Gardens‎ (Gandhi Garden)
  
• Beach Park (Sea View)
  
• Askari Park (University Road)
  
• Hill Park (Tariq Road)
  
• Nisar Shaheed Park (Defance P5)
  
• Zam Zam Park (ZamZama)
  
• Polo Ground (PIDC)
  
• Cosy Water Park (super highway)
  
• Samzu Park (super highway)
  
• Fiesta park (super highway)
  
• Sun Way Lagon (near nooriabad)
  
• Cheekoo water park (super highway)
  

FAMOUS AVENUES

• Zamzama Avenue (famous for its designer outlets & clubs)
  
• Beach Avenue
  
• Karsaz Road (Karachi's pride)
  
• II Chundrigar Road (Karachi's Wall Street)
  
• Shahrah-e-Faisal
  
• Tariq Road (Shopping street)
  

FOOD

• Burns Road

ARRIVING TO KARACHI

Get In

Jinnah International Airport, is Karachi's largest international and domestic airport. Built by a French company and opened in 1993, it's one of the best airports in South Asia. Facilities include a McDonald's outlet, a Citibank ATM (in Arrivals), hotels and a duty free shop that doesn't sell alcohol. Spotty lighting is a downside. Previously, immigration was a lengthy process, but after rearrangement of counters and the introduction of a green channel in 2006, this is no longer the case.

Get Around

The main ways of getting around in Karachi is through buses, and it is used by the majority of the Karachi population. However, outsiders might be put off by the cramped conditions in the buses, and might prefer traveling in taxis. There are three kinds of taxis in Karachi, Metro, Yellow and Black. The yellow ones are generally thought to be better than the black ones. Although they do charge a greater mark up. The Metros are chains of taxis operated by different private sector companies (i.e. private version of NY's TLC). As in any nation, elements can overcharge "foreigners". Most of the Black and Yellow taxis don't have any meter, so you should first fix the charge and the location with the driver before getting in. The official per kilometer rate is around 7 Rupees but expect to pay around double of that.

There is also the so called "Radio/White Cab" service, which is air conditioned and can be called in at the airport or anywhere in the city. Typical cost for a full day (8 hours, 150 KM) is $25 (USD). White Cab Tel No. 00-92-111-789-786 or within Karachi 111-789-786. Per kilometer rate is 15 Rupees plus Rs. 50 calling charges. A new company, "Metro Cabs" is considered highly efficient, their taxis are usually easily available from the airport, rates are very reasonable. Metro Cab Tel. No. 00-92-21-111-222-787 or within Karachi 111-222-787. Once you get the hang of traveling in Karachi, it becomes a very entertaining experience. You meet new people and get to see really unexpected things. It's not very hard to find a mode of transportation and if you know what you are doing, very easy to get around. The famed words of a great man predicted this once tiny fishing village surrounded by the Arabian Sea would become a queen of cities. The present city of Karachi has risen to high standards, be it with regard to culture, education or comm

ECONOMY AND DEVELOPMENT

ECONOMY

Karachi is the financial capital of Pakistan. It accounts for the lion's share of Pakistan's GDP and generates about 65% percent of the national revenue providing a Gross Metropolitan Product of PKR. 1.607 trillion or $265 Billion at PPP and a GMP per capita of $21,917 rivaling Western European and American cities. Most of Pakistan's public and private banks have their head offices in Karachi. Besides banking and finance, Karachi also hosts the offices of foreign multinational corporations as well as corporations based in Pakistan. It is home to the largest stock exchange of Pakistan: the Karachi Stock Exchange. This financial boom helped Pakistan to achieve its ambitious goal of exceeding a seven per cent growth in GDP for the fiscal year 2004-05.Business DistrictsI.I. Chundrigar Road (formerly McLeod Road) was once the main business district of Karachi, but in recent years many businesses have moved to other areas such as Sharah-e-Faisal, Clifton and Defence. The traffic congestion in I.I. Chundrigarh Road has made it difficult to travel to the center of the city in a timely manner.Sharah-e-Faisal has seen a spate of building with high rises, show rooms and institutions. Its proximity to Karachi Airport has been a significant factor. Dozens of new manufacturing units are also being built near the Pakistan Steel Mill. Farm businesses line the SuperHighway route. SITE Manghopir is the biggest industrial area of Pakistan with more than 4000 factories. New Industrial zones have come in the past like Landhi, Korangi, FB Area, North Karachi, Dhabeji and Port Qasim.

IT Trends

The recent trend of ICT (information and communications technology), electronic media and call centers as become a significant part of Karachi business hierarchy. Call centres for foreign companies have been targeted as a significant area of growth, with the government making efforts to reduce taxes by as much as 80 per cent in order to gain foreign investments in the IT sector.The city has also firmly established itself as the electronic media capital of the country as most Pakistan's Media Television Channels are headquartered here including CNBC Pakistan, ARY Digital, AAJ TV and GEO TV. They generate huge revenues for the city in advertising and provide jobs and entertainment. As a sign of the growing strength of the electronic media sector GEO TV is planning to start a further 10 channels and for this purpose is setting up a 50 acre studio in the city.
Banking Sector

The Sector which has reaped the benefits of industrialization in the real sense is the Banking and Insurance Sector in Karachi. One may see new branches of local and international banks all over Karachi. From bank to credit cards, paper money is becoming the order of the day in this city.
Transportation

Despite the growth and development of transport infrastructure elsewhere in the country Karachi remains the country's transport hub. Currently the city's 2 ports, Port of Karachi which is Pakistan's largest and Port Qasim, are central to nearly all shipping in Pakistan. The airport of Karachi, Jinnah International Airport, also known as Quaid-e-Azam International Airport, is the largest & busiest airport in Pakistan and handles 10 million passengers a year. The airport also receives the largest number of foreign airlines, a total of 27 airlines fly to Jinnah International predominantly from the Middle East and South East Asia. All of Pakistan's airlines use Karachi as their Primary hub including Pakistan International Airlines, Aero Asia International, Airblue and Shaheen Air.

Fisheries

Karachi is the biggest fisheries hub in Pakistan. Fishery plays an important role in the Karachi's economy. It provides employment to about 300,000 fishermen directly. In addition, another 400,000 people are employed in ancillary industries. It is also a major source of export earning. The Karachi Fish Harbour and Korangi Fish Harbour are two major fish harbours in Karachi.

DEVELOPMENT

There are many development projects proposed, approved and under construction in Karachi city. Among projects of note, Emaar Properties is proposing to invest $43bn (£22.8bn) in Karachi to develop Bundal Island, which is a 12,000 acre (49 km²) island just off the coast of Karachi. The Karachi Port Trust is envisioning another Rs. 20 billion project, the Port Tower Complex, which will be 1,947 feet high, the height indicating the Independence of Pakistan (14 August 1947), and is slated for completion within six years.[7][8] It is expected to comprise a hotel, a shopping centre, and an exhibition centre. The main feature of the venture is supposed to be a revolving restaurant, which will also contain a viewing gallery offering a panoramic view of the coastline and the city. The tower is planned to be located at the Clifton shoreline.
Some other mega projects that are proposed or under construction include: MCB Tower (completed), Port tower complex (proposed), Crescent Bay, Karachi (under construction), Karachi Waterfront (approved), Karachi Creek Marina (under construction), Dolmen Towers (under construction), I.T Tower (approved), Bundal Island (under construction), Buddo Island (approved), Square One Towers (under construction), Sign Tower (approved), Karachi Mass Transit System, Enshaa Towers (approved), Karachi FPCCI Tower (proposed) and, IT Tower (approved), Dolmen Mall (Hyderi) (under construction), City Centre (proposed), Malir Expressway, Northern Bypass Industrial Area (under construction), Ama Tower (under construction).

GEOGRAPHY AND DEMOGRAPHY

Coordinates: 24°51′36″N 67°00′36″E/ 24.86, 67.01.

Coordinates: 24°51′36″N 67°00′36″E/ 24.86, 67.01.

Altitude: 8 metres AMSL.

Area: 3,527 km².

Calling code: 021.

Time zone: PST (UTC+5).

No. of Towns: 18.

Population: approx. 18,000,000 2007.

Density: 4,115 persons/km².

GEOGRAPHY

Karachi is located in the south of Sindh, on the coast of the Arabian Sea. The city covers an area of approximately 3,530 square kilometers, comprised largely of flat or rolling plains, with hills on the western and northern boundaries of the urban sprawl. Two rivers pass through the city: the River Malir which flows from the east towards the south and centre, and the River Lyari, which flows from north to the south west. The Karachi Harbour is a sheltered bay to the south-west of the city, protected from storms by the Sandspit Beach, the Manora Island and the Oyster Rocks. The Arabian Sea beach lines the southern coastline of Karachi. Dense mangroves and creeks of the Indus delta can be found towards the south east side of the city. Towards the west and the north is Cape Monze, an area marked with projecting sea cliffs and rocky sandstone promontories. Some excellent beaches can also be found in this area.Located on the coast, Karachi tends to have a relatively mild climate with low levels of average precipitation (approximately 10 inches per annum), the bulk of which occurs during the July-August monsoon season. Winters are mild and the summers are hot, however the proximity to the sea maintains humidity levels at a near-constant high and cool sea breezes relieve the heat of the summer months. Due to high temperatures during the summer (ranging from 30 to 44 degrees Celsius from April to August), the winter months (November to February) are generally considered the best times to visit Karachi. July, December and January have pleasing and cloudy weather when most of the social events, ranging from weddings to charity fundraisers, frequently take place. Tourists and expatriates visit Karachi in these months

DEMOGRAPHICS

Trend of Population Growth in Karachi.The population and demographic distribution in Karachi has undergone numerous changes over the past 150 years. Non-governmental and international sources report that Karachi's current population is estimated to be 20 million a huge increase over its population in 1947 (400,000). The city's population is currently growing at about 5% per year (mainly on account of rural-urban internal migration), including an estimated 45,000 migrant workers coming to the city every month
from different parts of Pakistan. Karachi is the one of the largest megacities in the world.Before independence of Pakistan, Karachi had large communities of Muslims, Pashtuns, Muhajirs, Punjabis, Parsis, Jews, Hindus, Christians, Balochis, Gujaratis, and Sindhis. After independence of Pakistan, Muslim refugees settled in Karachi. Likewise, a large number of Hindus left the city for India. Predominantly Urdu speaking, known as Muhajirs formed the dominant ethnic group in Karachi. Muhajirs originated from different parts of India and brought with them their local cultures and cuisines, thus further adding to the already diverse mix of people that earlier inhabited Karachi. Currently, these older groups of people and continuing migration from different parts of Pakistan have contributed to a rich and diverse mix of people that live in Karachi. This has given the city a very metropolitan character, and has earned it the title as the Melting Pot of Pakistan

CITY NAZIM - SYED MUSTAFA KAMAL

"I see bright future for Karachi because all the problems would be solved, InshAllah. Instead of providing temporary solutions that lasts for short period of time, we are concentrating on permanent ones. New development activities are commencing in the city and we are going to build up Karachi of future". Syed Mustafa Kamal

VISION
"To develop Karachi as modern and developed city in the world and bring ease in the life of a common man."

MESSAGE

Karachi being one of the major ports of South Asia and main base on air route between Europe, South East Asia and Australia, has become a leading industrial, commercial and financial hub of Pakistan. With an increasing growth rate of 6-7 percent per annum as against the National population growth on 3% per annum Karachi is today a City of more than 15 million inhabitants. This coupled with rapid metropolitan growth and urbanization have intensified the civic services.
The CDGK which came into being replacing the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation with a wider span of obligations due to the devolution of various departments from the Provincial Government to the City District Government and merger of various civic agencies like KDA, KW&SB, LDA, MDA etc. is determined to enforce good governance, effective delivery of services and transparent decision making through institutionalized participation of people at grass root level. Emphasis has been made in the annual policies and programes for the development and improvement of environmental conditions of the city for the betterment of general public.
To achieve the targets of development and improvement set in various fields and to translate the policies into action, in order to provide maximum services to the people, exerted efforts are required. The role of Information Technology in the modern world has been explored as an important factor in harnessing the objectives. The present City District Government has firmed to computerize the activities and affairs of all its departments as early as possible. To begin with a Computerized Public Complaint Centre through toll free phone is being established where the complaints relating to CDGK lodged by the general public on telephone will immediately be passed on to the respective quarters and processed for prompt action. It will on the one hand save time and botheration of the complainant and on the other hand shall be routed expeditiously for redressal. Besides the facility shall also be available through the CDGK’s Web Site.
I hope and pray the Almighty Allah to strengthen our hands to serve the public and to improve their quality of life. Amin.
Syed Mustafa Kamal

HISTORY OF KARACHI

The area of Karachi has been known to the ancient Greeks by many names: Krokola, the place where Alexander the Great camped to prepare a fleet for Babylonia after his campaign in the Indus valley; 'Morontobara' port (probably the modern Manora Island near the Karachi harbor), from where Alexander's admiral Nearchus sailed for back home; and Barbarikon, a sea port of the Indo-Greek Bactrian kingdom. It was also known as the port of Debal to the Arabs, from where Muhammad bin Qasim led his conquering force into South Asia in 712 AD. According to the British historian Eliot, parts of city of Karachi and the island of Manora constituted the city of Debal. The present city started its life as a fishing settlement where a Sindhi fisherwoman by the name of Mai Kolachi took up residence and started a family. The village that later grew out of this settlement was known as Kolachi-jo-Goth (The Village of Kolachi in Sindhi). By the late 1700s this village started trading across the sea with Muscat and the Persian Gulf region which led to its gaining importance. A small fort was constructed for its protection, armed with cannons imported from Muscat. The fort had two main gateways: one facing the sea, known as Khara Darwaaza (Brackish Gate) and the other facing the adjoining Lyari river known as the Meetha Darwaaza (Sweet Gate). The location of these gates corresponds to the present-day city localities of Khaaradar and Meethadar respectively

KARACHI THE GATEWAY TO PAKISTAN

Karachi is the capital of the province of Sindh, and the largest city in Pakistan. Located on the coast of the Arabian Sea, north-west of the Indus River Delta, the mega city is the largest city, original capital and cultural, economical, philanthropic, educational, and political hub, as well as the largest port, of the country. The metropolitan area along with its suburbs comprises the world's second most populated city, spread over 3,530 square kilometers. The city credits its growth to the mixed populations of economic and political migrants and refugees from different national, provincial, linguistic and religious origins who have largely come to settle here permanently. It is locally termed as the City of Lights for its liveliness and the City of The Quaid, for not only being both the birth and death place of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah the founder of Pakistan but also his home after 1947. Residents and those born in the city are called "Karachiites".