Its been a long time coming but independent efforts by a group of volunteers have finally paid off to present a fully routable GPS map for Karachi available FREE to the general public. Ali Ahmed and his team of GPS enthusiasts at PKMaps has been doing a remarkable job updating and mapping the entire city of Karachi (& Pakistan) in full detail. Their latest release Karachi Map 0.85 has yet again built upon their great effort. Boasting n impressive stats of 9,500 POI, 36,000 roads (10,500 km), 2,500 addresses, 40 POI with contact numbers

The zip files available for download on the site are custom made for Garmin GPS units. To install this map on your Garmin device you can either download the Mapsource version or copy the gmapsupp.img directly on your supplemental map file. If you have a non-Garmin device there are a few help files on the forums to help install the same Karachi map on alternate devices.

Generally all Pakistan wide maps are available for free but a more detailed Pro version can be accessed for free if you join the team of contributors helping them to either map or even correct and fix the existing map. The Pro version generally has quite a detailed index of house numbers and an elaborate POI index [Points of Interest]

Attached are a few screen shots of this amazing routable map navigating through the streets of Karachi

Humiliation to humanity came at its best in KHI when ” Eighteen women and children died due to stampede and suffocation during free distribution of ration in Khori Garden area “

More , BBC

Karachi, being a metro & with a population of over 15 million is difficult to manage and since long been the easy target of mafiaz. Due to incompetent state supervision small mafias (sugar/water/land/religious/business/education) of different kinds have cropped up slowly without even being noticed. Some with political cover , some business,  some resource oriented and some mix of it. Latest we hearing is this case (+ more).One wonders if next clash would be among mafias. Recently there had been some reports of action against illegal water hydrants in city as well. The interest here is a prediction of which area to be focused as to which mafiaz will clash/rule the city in different dimensions (social/political) or this is just too far fetched an idea.

I recently met this legendary Journalist Chand Nawab a few days back, his shot to fame was this TV blooper which was recorded almost a year back at the Karachi Railway station. The video finding its way online was a prank by his colleagues and for a good few months Chand Nawab was in a fit of rage at his friends having humiliated him. But now he instead enjoys narrating this story in his own unique hilarious way, which in retrospect believe is worth another youtube clip for the legendary Chand Nawab and his KARACHI blooper

[ Image : Shariq ]

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Hamara Karachi video conceived, produced and directed by Ayesha Jalil (Y Productions) for Hamara Karachi Foundation

I am starting a new series where I will post things that we spot on a day to day basis, that dont seem right. A lot of people see things that should not be happening but we usually end up turning our eyes away from it. In order to improve the country, it is important that we keep an eye out for people who seem to be breaking the law and using unfair methods. If we keep highlighting these things in the media then the authorities are forced to look at correcting themselves. If we turn a blind eye, we give more freedom for corruption to flourish.

With this series, I will provide a platform for you to help change things in Karachi for the better. In the rapidly upcoming tradition of citizen journalism, I will keep this series open to everyone. Since it is our responsibility to make our city a better place, you can go do your own reporting and send me your photos/videos. I will publish a good selection every week for the benefit of the readers (Submission guidelines are at the end of the post).

TODAY’s SELECTION:

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Everyone is thrilled. Facebook feed page looks more like cricket.com and twitter is boasting our country’s win, not to forget tons of texts on cellphones. Streets of Karachi have also witnessed the pinnacle of joy, bhangras and celebration like to list a few,
Youtube: Celebrations at Gulshan Town
Youtube: Celebrations at Johar
Again at Johar Chowrangi
and the famous Khadda Market vid on FB =D

Thanks to Pakistani team for uniting the country at such times of turmoil and giving us a reason to cheer. Treat for Fathers especially at their special day ;)