Clifton, Karachi
Encyclopedia
Saddar Town
Saddar Town is a town in the central part of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. The word Saddar generally means the “centre” and also “head” . The town is bordered by Jamshed Town and Clifton Cantonment to the east, Kiamari Town and the Arabian Sea to the south and Lyari Town to the west...
in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
.
Demographics
There are several ethnic groups in Clifton including PakhtunsPashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
, Muhajirs, Sindhis
Sindhi people
Sindhis are a Sindhi speaking socio-ethnic group of people originating from Sindh, a province Formerly of British India, now in Pakistan. Today Sindhis that live in Pakistan belong to various religious denominations including Islam, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Sikhism and Christianity...
, Punjabis
Punjabi people
The Punjabi people , ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ), also Panjabi people, are an Indo-Aryan group from South Asia. They are the second largest of the many ethnic groups in South Asia. They originate in the Punjab region, which has been been the location of some of the oldest civilizations in the world including, the...
, Kashmiris
Kashmiri people
The Kashmiri people are a Dardic linguistic group living in Kashmir Valley in Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir and parts of the Pakistani territory of Azad Kashmir who speak the Kashmiri language...
, Seraikis
Saraiki people
The Saraiki people or Multani people are an ethnic group from the central and south-eastern areas of Pakistan, especially the former princely state of Bahawalpur and the districts of Multan, Lodhran, Vehari, Khanewal, Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh,...
, Balochs
Baloch people
The Baloch or Baluch are an ethnic group that belong to the larger Iranian peoples. Baluch people mainly inhabit the Balochistan region and Sistan and Baluchestan Province in the southeast corner of the Iranian plateau in Western Asia....
, Memons, Tanolis
Tanoli
The Tanoli are a Hazarewal tribe of the Tanawal valley, Hazara region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Although not usually acknowledged as Pashtuns, the Tanoli have to an extent assimilated many Pashtun cultural features and become Pashtunified. Tribally allied with the Pathans,. The...
, etc. Over 99% of the population is Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
. The population of Saddar Town
Saddar Town
Saddar Town is a town in the central part of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. The word Saddar generally means the “centre” and also “head” . The town is bordered by Jamshed Town and Clifton Cantonment to the east, Kiamari Town and the Arabian Sea to the south and Lyari Town to the west...
is estimated to be nearly one million.
Location
Clifton lies in the southern area of Saddar TownSaddar Town
Saddar Town is a town in the central part of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. The word Saddar generally means the “centre” and also “head” . The town is bordered by Jamshed Town and Clifton Cantonment to the east, Kiamari Town and the Arabian Sea to the south and Lyari Town to the west...
. Clifton has been reputed to be a residential place of the rich and famous people of Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
since the independence of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. South of Clifton lies Clifton Beach
Clifton Beach, Karachi
Clifton Beach or Seaview is a beach in Karachi, Pakistan located on the Arabian Sea. It is one of the neighborhoods of Clifton, Saddar Town. It was the world's most popular silver-sand beach and health resort during 20th century but in 2003 it was affected by an oil spill...
, Pakistan's most popular beach.
Sites of interest and landmarks
- ShrineShrineA shrine is a holy or sacred place, which is dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon or similar figure of awe and respect, at which they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated....
of Abdullah Shah GhaziAbdullah Shah GhaziAbdullah Shah Ghazi is considered to be patron saint of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. He is widely revered in Pakistan. His tomb is also a revered Sindhi shrine especially for the Bawarij Sindhi Muslims and the Samma tribe.... - Jehangir Kothari ParadeJehangir Kothari ParadeJehangir Kothari Parade is a promenade built on land bequeathed by Seth Jehangir Hormusji Kothari to the city of Karachi . It is situated in the Clifton area of the city - famous for its SeaView Beach - standing the test of time for roughly 85 years to date. There are two structures; 1...
(1922), along with the Katrak Bandstand and Lady Lloyd Pier. The Pier enabled people to walk towards the sea, but over the years the sea has retreated. - Bagh-e-Ibne QasimBagh-e-Ibne QasimThe Bagh Ibne Qasim is located in Clifton, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Inaugurated by President Pervez Musharraf on February 27, 2007, Pakistan's biggest park constructed under Clifton Beach Development Project on of land. The old Toyland Theme Park has been done away with and this park replaces...
- Mohatta PalaceMohatta PalaceThe Mohatta Palace is located in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. It was built by Shivratan Chandraratan Mohatta, an ambitious self-made businessman from Marwar as his summer home in 1927. The architect of the palace was Agha Ahmed Hussain. However, Mohatta could enjoy this building for only about two...
was the last residence of sisters Fatima JinnahFatima JinnahFatima Jinnah , was one of the figurative and pioneering woman figure in Pakistan Movement and was the younger sister of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. An active political figure in the movement for independence from the British Raj, she is commonly known in Pakistan as Khātūn-e...
and Shireen JinnahShireen JinnahShireen Jinnah was a sister of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of modern Pakistan. Shireen Jinnah's parents, Poonja Jinnah and Mithibai Jinnah had seven children, namely Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Ahmad Ali Jinnah, Bande Ali Jinnah, Rahmat Ali Jinnah, Maryam Jinnah, Fatima Jinnah and Shireen Jinnah....
. It has now been converted into a museum. - Constructed in the 1970s, the Do (two) and Teen (three) Talwar (swords) monuments on main Clifton Road are important landmarks.
- Boat Basin ParkBoat Basin ParkThe Boat Basin Park, is situated at Boat Basin, Clifton, Karachi.Boat Basin Park has constructed spread over an area of 240 acres . The park was constructed by the defunct Karachi Development Authority in the late 1960's...
- Park Towers
Houses
- 70 Clifton70 Clifton70 Clifton , is a house situated at Clifton Road, in Clifton, in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.70 Clifton was the residence of the Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, President of Pakistan, in the early 1970s...
is a famous residence, belonging to late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, President of PakistanPresident of PakistanThe President of Pakistan is the head of state, as well as figurehead, of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Recently passed an XVIII Amendment , Pakistan has a parliamentary democratic system of government. According to the Constitution, the President is chosen by the Electoral College to serve a...
in the early 1970s which was later used as a sub-jail for his daughter Benazir BhuttoBenazir BhuttoBenazir Bhutto was a democratic socialist who served as the 11th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from 1988 until 1990 and 1993 until 1996....
, who later became a prime minister of PakistanPakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
in the late eighties and in the mid-nineties for a second time. Mir Murtaza Bhutto, the elder son of Zulfiquar Ali Bhutto, also lived there and was assassinated near the main gate of 70 Clifton Road in the late 1990s.
Educational Institutes
Located in Clifton are many schools of great repute. Karachi Grammar SchoolKarachi Grammar School
Karachi Grammar School is an independent, highly selective, coeducational, English-medium school in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.Established in 1847 by the Reverend Henry Brereton, the first chaplain of Karachi, as a school for "English and Anglo-Indo children", it is the oldest private school in...
also known as KGS is located between Boat Basin and Bilawal Roundabout. Avicenna School
Avicenna School
The Avicenna School, is a co-education school in Karachi, Pakistan. Its main campus is in Clifton, Karachi. It is named after the famous Muslim polymath Avicenna ....
is located in Block 2 Clifton. Convent of Jesus and Mary
Convent of Jesus and Mary (Karachi)
The Convent of Jesus and Mary, Karachi is an all girls school located in Karachi, Pakistan. It has been accepting boys from Preschool till Class 5, but is an all-girls institution from Class 6 onwards. It is owned by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi. It was built during the 1950s...
also known as CJM is an all girls school located near 2 swords roundabout. The Lyceum School
The Lyceum School
The Lyceum School is a private co-educational institution in Karachi, Pakistan.The Lyceum was established in August 1987 to meet a growing demand for quality Advanced level education....
is also located near 2 swords roundabout. The International School
The International School, Karachi
The International School is a private school located in the Clifton locality of Karachi, Pakistan which caters to students from pre-school to high school level. Established in 1996, it is notable for being registered as the first and only International Baccalaureate affiliated educational...
also known as TIS is Pakistan's first and only school offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma programme.
SZABIST
Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology
Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology is a Pakistani university, with headquarters at Karachi and campuses at Islamabad, Karachi, Larkana and Dubai...
is one of Karachi's leading Universities offering a variety of degrees.
Nixor College is also located in Karachi Defense area, and is one of the leading Alevel institutes.
Consulates
A number of consulates are located in this areas. These are:- Consulate of Germany
- Consulate of Islamic Republic of Iran
- Consulate of Italy
- Consulate of Russia
- Deputy High Commission of the United Kingdom
Shopping centres
Clifton is dotted with numerous shopping malls most of which are frequently crowded with shoppers throughout the year.Located near Teen Talwar, the Gulf Shopping Mall is one of the many famous malls located in the town. It mostly specializes in clothing for women and traditional shoes and bangles. Located right next to it is Uzma Center which also provides and caters the same variety of items. Ashiana shopping mall is located between the KPT underpass and Punjab roundabout and offers the same items as the above mentioned malls.
Near Ashiana is The Forum, a recently built modern mall and office building, is a two-storey mall which caters to a small but wealthy percentage of the population due to it housing many international clothing and accessories chains such as NIKE, ADIDAS, DIOR, etc. Park Towers, also known as The Point, is one of the most sophisticated malls of Clifton. Opposite the shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi, this mall provides a range of amenities, including brand outlets, international chain restaurants, supermarkets, mobile shops, ice cream parlours and fashion line clothing shops. It has escalators and 2 small capsule elevators. Local brands like Sputnik Footwear, Amir Adnan, Khaadi and English Boot House are also present here.
Clifton Road
Clifton Road
Clifton Road is the main street in the wealthy Clifton neighbourhood of Saddar Town in Karachi, Pakistan. Its name dates from the British Colonial rule...
has become a commercial centre, known for its availability of high-quality goods. Wealthy people from all around Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
come to shop here while vacationing.
Karachi Port Trust (KPT) underpass
Another addition on the main Clifton RoadClifton Road
Clifton Road is the main street in the wealthy Clifton neighbourhood of Saddar Town in Karachi, Pakistan. Its name dates from the British Colonial rule...
is the KPT
Karachi Port Trust
Karachi Port Trust is a Pakistani federal government agency that oversees the operations of the Port of Karachi in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.-History:...
underpass, which is located between the two monuments mentioned above. The underpass was completed in 2006 with the main purpose of giving drivers a non-stop pass through. It has created several problems:
- No right turns are possible.
- Public transport vehicles cannot access it due to the low height; thus, those using buses or coaches suffer long, circuitous travel routes.
- In the monsoon season, the underpass was often flooded although with the recent addition of better pumps and storm drains in all of Clifton the danger of it flooding has fallen.
Places of worship
The freedom of religious practice enjoyed by different sects in Karachi is demonstrated by the fact that the IsmailiIsmaili
' is a branch of Shia Islam. It is the second largest branch of Shia Islam, after the Twelvers...
Jamat Khana is located in open view on Khayban-E-Roomi. There is also a rather large Hindu temple at Clifton Promenade that is quite visible due to its large red flag. The temple is also holy to Karachi's Sikh community, which numbers around 2000 to 3000. There are numerous mosques in the area as well.
Main areas of Clifton
- Boat BasinBoat BasinBoat Basin is located in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.The area got its name from the lake which has been a favorite boating place. Later on as the city got bigger the lake clear waters have changed to the today brown waters and the boating has ceased to be...
- G.O.R.
- Frere Town
- Tikri Colony
- Railway Quarters
- Kehkashan
- Clifton Blocks 1-9
- Old Clifton
- Reti Lane
- Shah Rasool Colony
See also
- Clifton BeachClifton BeachClifton Beach may refer to:* Clifton Beach, Queensland, Australia* Clifton Beach, Tasmania, Australia* Clifton Beach, Karachi, Pakistan* Clifton B. Beach , U.S. Representative from Ohio...
- SeaviewSeaview, Clifton beachSeaview is a beach in Karachi, Sindh Pakistan.The Seaview beach is a section of Clifton beach located in Clifton. It is one of the most popular entertainment sites in Karachi. The beach needs serious attention and consideration of the city government, as the area has become increasingly dirty and...
- Clifton CantonmentClifton CantonmentThe Clifton Cantonment is a cantonment town of the city of Karachi, in Sindh, Pakistan. It serves as a military base and residential establishment. It was established by the British Indian Army in 19th century British India, and taken over by the Pakistan Army in 1947...
- Shah Rasool Colony