Karachi is rich in culture and fantastic in food. Karachi has been thought to be a southwestern pillar of cultural edifice and melting pot of Pakistan where various ethnic groups come from all of the countries. Karachi is the twelfth largest city in the world. It is Pakistan’s most cosmopolitan city. It is linguistically, ethnically, and religiously diverse. The cultural history of Karachi goes back to 500 years from the emergence of the Indus Civilization in the 3rd millennium B.C. The culture appears to be Neolithic with the widespread use of small chart implements and semi-precious stones. No ethnic group predominates in the city. Cultural and social activities essentially revolve around religion. The population is entirely Muslim almost. But there are also Hindu, Christian, Parsi, and Buddhist minorities. Most of the Muslims are of Indian, or Pakistani origin, except for ‘Makranis’ and ‘Shiddies’ who have black African ancestry.
The ancient name of Karachi from the accounts of Alexander’s historians appears to be Krokola which literally means “A place of Crocodile Worship”. The modern port-city of Karachi however, was developed by authorities of the British Raj in the 19th century. Upon the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the city was selected to become the national capital.
Historically, Sindhi and Balochi were spoken by the native population before the British conquest in 1843 by Charles James Napier. Karachi justifies its claim to be a post-feudal-city. Its dominant culture is defined by an urge to create or produce something of great value that can be marketed. Poetry is deeply embedded in Pakistani culture and is considered a sign of artistic and intellectual commentary. Karachi boasts a large community of intellectuals who come together in designated open spaces to share their talent in poetry known as ‘Mushairas’ in the local language. Karachi is home to some of the most important cultural institutions. Aside from regular performances by the nation’s biggest musical stars, Karachi also boasts one of the biggest underground music scenes in the country, where traditional music influences blend with modern, western-style to create a brand of fusion music.
Karachiites are avid shoppers. Karachi has many large and small shopping areas including the Saddar area in downtown Karachi. Karachi also has several large modern shopping malls. You can shop from
- Dolmen Mall Clifton
- Port Grand
- Lucky One Mall
- Zainab Market
- Emerald Tower
- Park Towers etc.
Karachi has a thriving textiles industry. Following are the best textile industries in Karachi:
1. China Textile Industry
2. Industrial fans and filters
3. Anwartex industries Pvt Ltd
4. Alwani textile machinery
5. Union Textiles etc.
Meat plays a dominant role in Karachi foods. Curries and pulses are also very popular. Of all the meats, the most popular are beef, goat, chicken, and seafood. It is no coincidence, Karachi attracts more and more people from all over the country who come to make a living or a fortune. People settle and cause the city to grow. The city is made up of migrants, it also incites some of the strongest feelings of isolation and disconnect, particularly with its build heritage. In many ways, large cities in the world share common traits and evoke similar emotions. Karachi has 26 universities including the University of Karachi. It is a home national stadium that hosts many cricket games. The city has several long city beaches. Clifton beach has suffered from oil spillage but the beach was cleaned.
