Gift 2: Habib Bank Plaza
Standing at 95 meters tall, it is not the tallest building in the world, but it has been mesmerizing Karachi (and Pakistan) since 1967. Until 2005 it was the tallest building in the country. Whenever someone mentions I.I. Chundrigar road, the first thing that comes in my mind is Habib Bank Plaza.
There is something really strange about this building. Everytime I pass through, I can’t help myself looking up to the roof of the building. Its fascinating, the architecture that resembles stack of coins. Even after loosing its status of the tallest building in Pakistan, the gravity is still there. It is still more attractive than MCB Tower, specially when they decorate it with colorful lights on the occasions of Eid, 14th August, and other holidays.
Habib Bank Plaza truly symbolizes the economic strength of Karachi.
“In the spirit of all the holiday gift giving that will be taking place over the next couple of months, all the Metroblogging cities are giving 7 gifts to the world throughout the week of NOV 26th – DEC 2. This is Karachi’s 2nd Gift to the World.”
iam sure everybody remembers the radio ad…..MERAA BANK…MERAA BHI TOH HAI…..
truely it is our(My) pride and joy….
I guess we are running out of gift ideas. :)
Its a pretty building alright. May not compete well against buildings in other cities but I still love it!
wht abt that SOOO FAMOUS JET FOUnTAIN (clifton one) is that a GIFT !!!!!!!ATLEAST THEY TRYED TO MAKE IT WORK !!!!!!!!!!!!:D
definately a gift!
waise.. never thought about the fact that it looked like a stack of coins… but now that u mention it…..
hhhhmmm, and to think i used to see it everyday when leaving home :D
@ Umar: A very beautiful picture. It shows HBL Plaza in its full glory.
nice pic and a great gift! i looooooooov karachi :D
Haha, so thats the logic behind the strange architecture….
I never would have thought it looked like a stack of coins.
I used to see it nearly every day in the 90s…my earlies memories of Habib Bank Plaza are from the late 70s, I was always so awestruck of it majesty and grandeur…I can only imagine the impact it must have had in 1967…it does make one think of what happened to the economy after that…thank bhutto for nationalization…
We can also thank bhutto for bangladesh, religion in politics and persecution of ahmedi’s. Maybe he shouldve been our “gift:.if a gift is something you are trying to get rid of.(sometimes it is:))