KMB has been showing lot of photographs of our dreaded, failed transport system showing our typical buses being over-loaded, stuffed like a fat photo, over-flowing with people. Sometimes, off course, the consequences are just too bad to relate to. Broken or cut off legs, damaged nerves, blood ozing out. Our buses have come to be known as killer buses and the drivers are usually known as pilots, for these buses don’t run, they fly.

For all its dreaded atmosphere, I have come to love them for various reasons. One being its roof-top, airy compartment, suitable for sleeping as well as seeing around the city with no side effects. These roof-tops are good for photographers like myself, who wish to see his city in a various shades.

Have you ever enjoyed such a ride. If so, let us know here at KMB.

Last week, most cities across the metroblogging network participated in a network-wide series in which each city shared 7 entities from that city that could be regarded as gifts. We also actively participated in this motion and came up with 7 gifts from Karachi. For those of you who missed the series, here is a recap.

Gift 7: Pakola Ice Cream Soda
Gift 6: W-11 The Bus
Gift 5: Shopping in Saddar
Gift 4: Mohatta Palace
Gift 3: Nihari
Gift 2: Habib Bank Plaza
Gift 1: Abdul Sattar Edhi

Which one did you enjoy the most? My favorite is Nihari. I actually had some nihari after reading about it.

Love, compassion, service to humanity, devotion, sincerity, humbleness, inspiration & devotion are all different names for on man on earth, we proudly present to the world as a gift, known as Abdul Sattar Edhi.

( Image credit : edhi foundation )

Edhi is a well known name to the world of service and humanity. Edhi is for Karachi what Mother Teresa is to Calcutta. But more than that Edhi is an angel on earth not only for Karachi & Pakistan but to the whole world. From Karachi to all over Pakistan. From Azad Kashmir to Tsunami & from Lebanon to Katrina this one man with a primary-school education has almost single-handedly created one of the largest and most successful health and welfare networks in Asia. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, as of 1997, Edhi Foundation operates the world’s largest volunteer ambulance service.

Edhi is our No.1 & the best gift to the world. He has done more then a Nobel Prize would mean. For more than half a century, Abdul Sattar Edhi, has been living proof that a determined individual can mobilize others to alleviate misery and, in so doing, knit together the social fabric of a nation. He is truly a role model to follow and a great hero of our time. Our curriculum books definitely need a chapter on him at least. He is the best thing probably that happened to Pakistan in last 59 years of our history.

(more…)

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.”

When you think of nihari, only one thing comes to mind… YUMM!!!

The texture, spiciness, and tenderness of this dish makes it a all-round favourite of everyone who’s ever been to karachi.

A little history: Nihari is originally a dish from the Muslims of Delhi and is most popular in Pakistan. It is a stew made from beef or lamb and curry. The Muslims of Delhi are the ones who actually brought it to Pakistan and popularized it there. Nihari originated as a dish of the Muslim upper class society in Delhi. It passed to other classes as Muslim ascendency and power declined. This was after the waning of Mughal power in the mid to late 18th century when many muslim families from the Mughal nobility became impoverished.

“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 3rd Gift to the World.”

“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 4th Gift to the World.”

In karachi, we dont have much museums. Atleast, i didnt think so, and when a couple of friends decided to go visit Mohatta Palace, i was esctatic. The experience was so good that today, i present to you as Gift #4 from Karachi….. The Mohatta Palace.

Named after its founder, the Mohatta Palace was built between 1933 and 1935 by Shivratan Chandratan Mohatta and was used as the residence of Fatima Jinnah, sister of our great leader, Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Today, its used as a musuem featuring ceramic arts from over the centuries and the Jewel in the Crown exhibition which features the history of the city. Within the four walls, it carries a lot of the partition era memorabilia, including pictures, letters and even instruments from DJ Science college.

Outside on the grounds stand three picture displays, featuring various personalities from the partition time. Once you go through there, you realize why so many major roads in the city have been named after these famous personalities, such as I.I. Chundrigar, Abdullah Haroon and so forth. Also within the grounds, stands a beautifully restored Rolls Royce used by Jinnah, as well as an old fire engine belonging to the city.

The whole experience is definately an eye opener and i strongly suggest everyone in the city and who comes to visit the city to definately give it a vist.

Starting from Zainub Market, all the way to Empress Market, comprised of Bohri Bazar, Electronic Market, Abdullah Haroon Road, lies an area that can truly be regarded as shoppers paradise. Here you can find everything that money can buy. Be it clothes, leather jackets, snake skin purses, carpets, cosmetics, jewellery, perfumes, shoes, pet animals, books, sports equipments, cell phones, consumer electronics, handicrafts, paper items, crockery, furniture, books, cheap dentists, doctors, black magic experts, palmists, ghost busters, you name it. If you can’t find it in Saddar, it doesn’t exist. And that holds true for car parking as well. It’s better that you take a cab.

Here you will find the true Karachi. Here, if you are skilled enough, you can negotiate to buy anything 50% off the list price, or lower. Here, if you are not careful enough, you can easily be a victim of a con artist. Here you will find best chana papri (yum yum!!) in town. Here, if you have the eye for it, you will find some genuine artifacts, and some not quite so genuine.

This is Saddar, the heart of Karachi.

Photo Credit [ TRAMTACTIC ]

Racing on the streets of Karachi, extravagantly decorated with Chamak pati “Reflective Tape” in vibrant colors, along with truck art paintings. Red hearts with ‘LOVE’ Written on them, hawks and flower vases with patterns like peacock feather all with “Chamak pati”, further lit up with tiny bulbs all over. They are W-11 the most cleanest and finest of the local transportation mini busses.
(more…)

“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 7th Gift to the World.”

If there is one soft drink that started from Karachi and spread not only in Pakistan but all over the world, it’s got to be Pakola. I would rather call it KaraCola and it would taste just as great, but just thinking about Pakola brings that sweet taste into the mouth that you just want to leave everything else and have some Pakola.