Culture of Karachi
Encyclopedia
The culture of Karachi
is a manifestation of the lifestyle, festivals, literature, music, language, politics, cuisine and socio-economic conditions of the people of Karachi, Sindh
, Pakistan
. Karachi is a microcosm
of people from many diverse cultures and ethnicities from all over Pakistan as well as other parts of the world.
The everyday lifestyle of Karachi similar to that of other Pakistani major cities. The culture
of Karachi is characterized by the blending of South Asia
n, Middle East
ern, Central Asia
n and Western
influences, as well as the city's status as a major international business centre. As a whole, there is considerable diversity in culture, and this diversity has resulted a unique cultural amalgam of its own. Karachi also hosts the largest middle class
stratum of Pakistan.
tribes from Balochistan
and Makran
established a small settlement of fishing communities, many of whom still inhabit sections of Sindh, and called it Kolachi. 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, and was settled by Muslim
refugees from at the time of the independence in 1947, which radically expanded the city's population and transformed the demographics and economy. Karachi has faced major infrastructural and socio-economic challenges, but modern industries and businesses have developed in the city.
and later Sindhi
was spoken by the native population before the British conquest in 1834 by Charles James Napier
. During British rule, many Gujrati and Parsi business families and Christian Goans
bureaucracy migrated from Bombay Presidency
to Karachi as it was being developed as a major port. After independence of Pakistan
in 1947, Muslim refugee
s (Muhajirs) migrated to Karachi. The vast majority of Muhajirs spoke Urdu. Today Karachi is predominantlry Urdu speaking city with many other languages also spoken in the city.
The current estimated linguistic distribution of the city is: Urdu
: 48.52%; ;Punjabi
: 13.64%; ; Balochi
: 4.34%; Saraiki
: 2.11%; others: 12.09%. The others include Dari
, Gujarati
, Dawoodi Bohra
, Memon, Marwari
, Brahui, Makrani, Khowar
, Burushaski
, Arabic
, Persian
and Bengali
.
: 96.49%; Christian
: 2.35%; Hindu
: 0.83%; Ahmadi: 0.17%; others 0.13%. The others include Parsis, Jews, Orthodox
and Buddhists.
s in the local language. A large number of intellectuals and aspiring poets from all over the nation also flock to Karachi, hoping to find better work opportunities in the city. The theme and subject matter of the poetry can vary immensely, but most are socio-cultural commentaries, often infused with a biting sense of humor.
Karachi is home to some of Pakistan's important cultural institutions. The National Academy of Performing Arts
, located in the newly renovated Hindu Gymkhana
offers a two year diploma course in performing arts that include classical music and contemporary theatre. The All Pakistan Music Conference
, linked to the 45-year old similar institution in Lahore
, has been holding its Annual Music Festival since its inception in 2004. The festival is now a well-established feature of the city life of Karachi that is awaited anxiously and attended by more than 3000 citizens of Karachi as well as people from other cities.
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 musical influences
blend with modern, Western style to create a unique brand of fusion music
. This style of music has been very popular all across Pakistan and is utilized by most of the nation's up-and-coming musical artists. Many of the nation's emerging musicians have based themselves in Karachi because of excellent employment opportunities in the burgeoning entertainment industry of Karachi. Many of the nation's fresh musical acts can be found in cafe
s, restaurants and concerts across Karachi, especially in the city's upper middle class
and upper class
areas.
The National Arts Council
(Koocha-e-Saqafat) also has musical performances and mushaira
s. Karachi has a few museums including the Mohatta Palace Museum and National Museum of Pakistan
that regularly have exhibitions related to performance arts. Karachi is also home to the annual Kara Film Festival
, which is one of the biggest film festival
s in Pakistan and showcases independent
Pakistani and international films and documentaries.
Recently, youths inspired by theater and improv have formed Karachi's first drama club, called The Acting Wheel. Groups of young theater enthusiasts meet twice a month to act out famous film and theater scripts spontaneously. These are not rehearsed performance but rather a forum to encourage spontaneous, improv acting. Participants are encouraged to let go of their inhibitions and just act out. Recaps of each act-olution can be found at http://www.theactingwheel.blogspot.com
Karachiites are avid shoppers, and, as such, Karachi boasts an incredible diversity in terms of shopping, accommodating anyone's preferences and budget. Products that shoppers can buy in Karachi come from a vast variety of sources, from one of the many local cottage industries to authentic brand wear by renowned international designers. The city has many modern, high-end shopping malls such as Park Towers, The Forum and Dolmen Mall, in addition to local mid-range bazaars and a gamut of streetside vendors. In places such as Park Towers and Dolmen Mall, all famous stores such as Khaadi, Amir Adnan, Sputnik Footwear and English Boot House, all have a presence.
Main shopping places are Tariq Road which has clothing shops, Saddar which has electronics market and Boat Basin which has restaurants.
However, due to increased modernization and awareness, the once-flourishing hawking business
has recently seen somewhat of a slowdown in most areas of Karachi, especially in regards to street food
vendors.
Karachi has a thriving textiles industry, which is one of, if not the largest in Pakistan. This industry alone covers a vast variety of businesses, from large-scale suppliers that cater international demand in developed countries, to locally hand-made goods by grassroots vendors.
Most vendors in Karachi are open to bargaining, which is a common sight at most bazaars and among hawkers. As a result, prices of products vary immensely among every vendor, with the exception of upscale high-end shopping malls, which usually have fixed prices. In Karachi, it is also general knowledge to be cautious when bargaining with vendors, especially in bazaars and with hawkers, as they often sell substandard goods at high prices to unaware shoppers. Apparent foreigners, in particular, are often ripped off.
A major contributor to Karachi's wealth in shopping is that most of its residents belong to the middle class
and relatively well-off.
, pulses like Lentils, called dal
, are also very popular. Of all the meats, the most popular are: beef, goat, chicken and seafood. Barbecue
food is also extremely popular. Dishes made with rice include pullao and biryani
. Different kinds of breads like: Chapati
, Naan
, Tandoor bread
, Paratha
and Puri
are very popular.
, Chaudry Mateen DineOne, BBQ Tonight, Pearl Continental Hotel Karachi, Pizza Hut, Penny Pizza, Subway, KFC, Mcdonalds, Biryani Centre, Dominos Pizza, Nandos, Papa Johns, Dunkin Donuts, Hot n' Spicy,Mr. Burger, Nimco, Salt 'n' Pepper Village Restaurants, Shan-e-Mughalia, Lal Qila, Usmania restaurant, Bundo Khan, Clifton Grill Restaurant and Copper Kettle.http://www.karachisnob.com/restaurants-karachi.htm
Most of these restaurants deliver to their clients at home.
http://www.karachisnob.com/restaurants_that_deliver_in_karachi.htm
In addition to these resurants there are also streets famous for their restaurants and cuisine, which include Boat Basin, Zamzama and Burns Road.
, Chaand Raat
, Eid
, Milad un Nabi and Ashura
are among the most prominent festivities and are observed passionately with fervor. Shopping reaches its peak during the Eid season, as not only established businesses but vendors from all over the country come to the city to sell their goods to the city's large population, a majority of which is middle class
and relatively well-off compared to most other parts of the country. Many rallies and parades are carried out during the events of Milaad un Nabi, Ashura, Jashn-e-Baharan and Nowruz by religious leaders and followers all across the city. Ethnic and religious minorities, like Christians, Hindus, Ismailis etc. also celebrate their events, although not on as large a scale as Islamic events.
Independence Day
, which takes place on August 14, is also a very important event for all Karachiites. A national holiday
is commenced all over the country on this date, as homes are decorated with flags and patriotic embellishments, and children sing patriotic songs, known as milli naghmas, to show their love for their nation. The festivity of this day is such that a small cottage industry has emerged in large cities, like Karachi, to supply the decoration demands of Independence Day. And although not as feverish as Independence Day, Defence Day is also passionately observed across the city on 6 September every year.
Pakistan Day or Resolution Day is observed on 23 March every year.
Geo TV, Dawn , ARY, PTV, Samaa and Duniya news have tv stations in Karachi.
, making films for the viewership of a large and growing working-class population
. With a metropolitan area
the film viewership is still popular in Karachi. However, the interest has shifted more towards the Hollywood
and other international productions. One of the reasons for the shifting trends is attributed to the moving of film-making industry to Lahore
, locally termed as Lollywood
. There are several hundred cinema theatres in Karachi with releases in Urdu, English
, Sindhi
, Punjabi
, Pashtu, Balochi
, etc.
. Shalwar are loose pajama
-like trousers
. The legs are wide at the top, and narrow at the bottom. The Qameez is a long shirt or tunic. The side seams (known as the chaak) are left open below the waist-line, which gives the wearer greater freedom of movement.
Karachi is mainly supportive of MQM, followed by Jamaat Islami, PPP, PMLQ and ANP.http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_14-2-2005_pg7_44
The previous mayor of Karachi was Naimatullah Khan who was from Jamaat Islami party.
Other parties have offices in Karachi such PML -N and Awami Muslim League.
is known for the Pakhtuns or Kharadar is for Memons and Agha Khanis
, similarly Lyari
is known for Baloch
and Memons, Nazimabad
and Liaquatabad
are known for Muhajirs (Urdu
speaking people), because here in Karachi communities prefer to live in groups or Jamaats or their ‘own kind’, instead of living scattered, as according to mindset of Pakistani people (who being divided in distinctive cultures / identities) it is in their own interest. The mentality has been reinforced as a result of serious clashes which have taken in recent past among different ethnic groups in this city.
(سهرا) and Ladda (لاڏا) such as:
آيلڙي مون ته سُئي وڃائي
ڪراچيءَ جي شهر مان مون سُئي گھُرائي
sung by Zarina Baloch
and
ڪراچيءَ جي شهر مان منڊيون جوڙايم
سونا گل ڪراچيءَ جي موٽر ڀرجي آيا
In addition, Karachi is also known for the legend of Morirro Mirbahar, whose braveness has been praised and sung by Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai in his poetry. This legend story has also been picturized in a Sindhi movie Ghatoo Ghar na Ayaa (In Sindhi گھاتُو گھر نه آيا).
Karachi jaa ddeeha' aee' raatioo' (In Sindhi ڪراچيءَ جا ڏينهن ۽ راتيون), Days and Nights of Karachi is a novel written by Muhammad Bakhsh Johar.
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...
is a manifestation of the lifestyle, festivals, literature, music, language, politics, cuisine and socio-economic conditions of the people of Karachi, 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...
. Karachi is a microcosm
Macrocosm and microcosm
Macrocosm and microcosm is an ancient Greek Neo-Platonic schema of seeing the same patterns reproduced in all levels of the cosmos, from the largest scale all the way down to the smallest scale...
of people from many diverse cultures and ethnicities from all over Pakistan as well as other parts of the world.
The everyday lifestyle of Karachi similar to that of other Pakistani major cities. The culture
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
of Karachi is characterized by the blending of South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
n, Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
ern, Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
n and Western
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
influences, as well as the city's status as a major international business centre. As a whole, there is considerable diversity in culture, and this diversity has resulted a unique cultural amalgam of its own. Karachi also hosts the largest middle class
Middle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
stratum of Pakistan.
History of Karachi
The BalochBaloch 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....
tribes from Balochistan
Balochistan (region)
Balochistan or Baluchistan is an arid, mountainous region in the Iranian plateau in Southwest Asia; it includes part of southeastern Iran, western Pakistan, and southwestern Afghanistan. The area is named after the numerous Baloch tribes, Iranian peoples who moved into the area from the west...
and Makran
Makran
The present day Makran is a semi-desert coastal strip in the south of Sindh, Balochistan, in Iran and Pakistan, along the coast of the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman. The present day Makran derived its name from Maka, a satrap of Achaemenid Empire....
established a small settlement of fishing communities, many of whom still inhabit sections of Sindh, and called it Kolachi. The modern port-city of Karachi, however, was developed by authorities of the British Raj
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
in the 19th century. Upon the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the city was selected to become the national capital, and was settled by 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...
refugees from at the time of the independence in 1947, which radically expanded the city's population and transformed the demographics and economy. Karachi has faced major infrastructural and socio-economic challenges, but modern industries and businesses have developed in the city.
Language
Historically, BalochiBalochi language
Balochi is a Northwestern Iranian language. It is the principal language of the Baloch of Balochistan, Pakistan, eastern Iran and southern Afghanistan. It is also spoken as a second language by some Brahui. It is designated as one of nine official languages of Pakistan.-Vowels:The Balochi vowel...
and later Sindhi
Sindhi language
Sindhi is the language of the Sindh region of Pakistan that is spoken by the Sindhi people. In India, it is among 22 constitutionally recognized languages, where Sindhis are a sizeable minority. It is spoken by 53,410,910 people in Pakistan, according to the national government's Statistics Division...
was spoken by the native population before the British conquest in 1834 by Charles James Napier
Charles James Napier
General Sir Charles James Napier, GCB , was a general of the British Empire and the British Army's Commander-in-Chief in India, notable for conquering the Sindh Province in what is now Pakistan.- His genealogy :...
. During British rule, many Gujrati and Parsi business families and Christian Goans
Goans
Goan is the demonym used to describe the people of the Indian state of Goa who form an ethno-linguistic group which is a result of assimilation of Indo-Portuguese, Indo-Aryan, Dravidian, Proto-Australoid, Indo-Scythian, Indo-Greeks and Indo-Iranians ethnic and/or linguistic ancestries.They speak...
bureaucracy migrated from Bombay Presidency
Bombay Presidency
The Bombay Presidency was a province of British India. It was established in the 17th century as a trading post for the English East India Company, but later grew to encompass much of western and central India, as well as parts of post-partition Pakistan and the Arabian Peninsula.At its greatest...
to Karachi as it was being developed as a major port. After 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...
in 1947, Muslim refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s (Muhajirs) migrated to Karachi. The vast majority of Muhajirs spoke Urdu. Today Karachi is predominantlry Urdu speaking city with many other languages also spoken in the city.
The current estimated linguistic distribution of the city is: Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
: 48.52%; ;Punjabi
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
: 13.64%; ; Balochi
Balochi language
Balochi is a Northwestern Iranian language. It is the principal language of the Baloch of Balochistan, Pakistan, eastern Iran and southern Afghanistan. It is also spoken as a second language by some Brahui. It is designated as one of nine official languages of Pakistan.-Vowels:The Balochi vowel...
: 4.34%; Saraiki
Saraiki language
Saraiki , transliterated as Sirāikī and sometimes spelled Seraiki and Saraiki, is a standardized written language of Pakistan belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages. It is a language spoken in the heart of Pakistan...
: 2.11%; others: 12.09%. The others include Dari
Dari (Eastern Persian)
Dari or Fārsī-ye Darī in historical terms refers to the Persian court language of the Sassanids. In contemporary usage, the term refers to the dialects of modern Persian language spoken in Afghanistan, and hence known as Afghan Persian in some Western sources. It is the term officially recognized...
, Gujarati
Gujarati language
Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages...
, Dawoodi Bohra
Dawoodi Bohra
Dawoodi Bohra is a subsect of Ismāʿīlī Shīʿa Islām. While the Dawoodi Bohra is based in India, their belief system originates in Yemen, where it evolved from the Fatimid Caliphate and where they were persecuted due to their differences from mainstream Sunni Islam...
, Memon, Marwari
Marwari language
The Marwari language , also variously Marvari, Marwadi, Marvadi), is spoken in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Marwari is also found in the neighboring state of Gujarat and Haryana and in Eastern Pakistan...
, Brahui, Makrani, Khowar
Khowar language
For the ethnic group, see under Chitrali people.Khowar , also known as Chitrali, is a Dardic language spoken by 400,000 people in Chitral in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in the Ghizer district of Gilgit-Baltistan , and in parts of Upper Swat...
, Burushaski
Burushaski language
The Burushaski or Burushko language , is a language isolate . It is spoken by some 87,000 Burusho people in the Hunza, Nagar, Yasin, and Ishkoman valleys, and some parts of the Gilgit valley, in Gilgit–Baltistan in Pakistan and by about 300 Burusho people in Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir, India...
, Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
, Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
and Bengali
Bengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
.
Religion
Karachi is predominantly Muslim (Sunni 66% and Shia 34%) city with small religious minorities. The religious breakup of the city is as follows: MuslimMuslim
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...
: 96.49%; Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
: 2.35%; Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
: 0.83%; Ahmadi: 0.17%; others 0.13%. The others include Parsis, Jews, Orthodox
Orthodox Christianity
The term Orthodox Christianity may refer to:* the Eastern Orthodox Church and its various geographical subdivisions...
and Buddhists.
Literature
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 events known as mushairaMushaira
Mushaira is a poetic symposium. Its a term in Urdu used to describe an event where poets gather to perform their works. A mushaira is a beloved part of the culture of Pakistan and North India, and it is greatly admired by participants as a forum for free self-expression.-Forms:A mushaira can take...
s in the local language. A large number of intellectuals and aspiring poets from all over the nation also flock to Karachi, hoping to find better work opportunities in the city. The theme and subject matter of the poetry can vary immensely, but most are socio-cultural commentaries, often infused with a biting sense of humor.
Performing arts
National Academy of Performing Arts
The National Academy of Performing Arts is located in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.NAPA was established as an institution to conserve and teach performing arts and music to students in Pakistan.- NAPA :...
, located in the newly renovated Hindu Gymkhana
Hindu Gymkhana
The Hindu Gymkhana was the first public building in Karachi to boldly adopt the Mughal-Revival style. The building established in 1925, Its located at Sarwar Shaheed Road in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan....
offers a two year diploma course in performing arts that include classical music and contemporary theatre. The All Pakistan Music Conference
All Pakistan Music Conference
The All Pakistan Music Conference was founded in 1959 for the promotion of classical music in Pakistan. Ever since its inception, it has been a constant source of inspiration for thousands of music lovers nationwide.-History:...
, linked to the 45-year old similar institution in Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, has been holding its Annual Music Festival since its inception in 2004. The festival is now a well-established feature of the city life of Karachi that is awaited anxiously and attended by more than 3000 citizens of Karachi as well as people from other cities.
Aside from regular performances by the nation's biggest musical stars, Karachi also boasts one of the biggest underground music
Underground music
Underground music comprises a range of different musical genres that operate outside of mainstream culture. Such music can typically share common values, such as the valuing of sincerity and intimacy; an emphasis on freedom of creative expression; an appreciation of artistic creativity...
scenes in the country, where traditional musical influences
Music of Pakistan
The music of Pakistan includes diverse elements ranging from music from various parts of South Asia as well as Central Asian, Persian, Turkish, Arabic and modern day Western popular music influences...
blend with modern, Western style to create a unique brand of fusion music
Fusion Music
Fusion Music is a sub genre of Reggaeton. Calle 13 helped introduce this genre, and are the most famous artists to sing it. It's also known as Alternative Reggaeton. Danny Fornaris is the most famous producer in this sub-genre, known as its Luny Tunes...
. This style of music has been very popular all across Pakistan and is utilized by most of the nation's up-and-coming musical artists. Many of the nation's emerging musicians have based themselves in Karachi because of excellent employment opportunities in the burgeoning entertainment industry of Karachi. Many of the nation's fresh musical acts can be found in cafe
Café
A café , also spelled cafe, in most countries refers to an establishment which focuses on serving coffee, like an American coffeehouse. In the United States, it may refer to an informal restaurant, offering a range of hot meals and made-to-order sandwiches...
s, restaurants and concerts across Karachi, especially in the city's upper middle class
Upper middle class
The upper middle class is a sociological concept referring to the social group constituted by higher-status members of the middle class. This is in contrast to the term "lower middle class", which is used for the group at the opposite end of the middle class stratum, and to the broader term "middle...
and upper class
Upper class
In social science, the "upper class" is the group of people at the top of a social hierarchy. Members of an upper class may have great power over the allocation of resources and governmental policy in their area.- Historical meaning :...
areas.
The National Arts Council
National Arts Council
National Arts Council is the name of a number of national bodies which oversee government funding of the arts.*Australia Council for the Arts*National Culture Fund of Bulgaria*Canada Council*Cayman National Cultural Foundation*Arts Council England...
(Koocha-e-Saqafat) also has musical performances and mushaira
Mushaira
Mushaira is a poetic symposium. Its a term in Urdu used to describe an event where poets gather to perform their works. A mushaira is a beloved part of the culture of Pakistan and North India, and it is greatly admired by participants as a forum for free self-expression.-Forms:A mushaira can take...
s. Karachi has a few museums including the Mohatta Palace Museum and National Museum of Pakistan
National Museum of Pakistan
The National Museum of Pakistan is located in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. National Museum of Pakistan was established in Frere Hall on April 17, 1950, replacing the defunct Victoria Museum. Frere Hall itself was built in 1865 as a tribute to Sir Bartle Frere, a Commissioner of Sind during the...
that regularly have exhibitions related to performance arts. Karachi is also home to the annual Kara Film Festival
Kara Film Festival
The KaraFilm Festival - Karachi International Film Festival is an internationally recognized film festival of Pakistan annually held in Karachi....
, which is one of the biggest film festival
Film festival
A film festival is an organised, extended presentation of films in one or more movie theaters or screening venues, usually in a single locality. More and more often film festivals show part of their films to the public by adding outdoor movie screenings...
s in Pakistan and showcases independent
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
Pakistani and international films and documentaries.
Recently, youths inspired by theater and improv have formed Karachi's first drama club, called The Acting Wheel. Groups of young theater enthusiasts meet twice a month to act out famous film and theater scripts spontaneously. These are not rehearsed performance but rather a forum to encourage spontaneous, improv acting. Participants are encouraged to let go of their inhibitions and just act out. Recaps of each act-olution can be found at http://www.theactingwheel.blogspot.com
Shopping
Main shopping places are Tariq Road which has clothing shops, Saddar which has electronics market and Boat Basin which has restaurants.
However, due to increased modernization and awareness, the once-flourishing hawking business
Hawker (trade)
A hawker is a vendor of merchandise that can be easily transported; the term is roughly synonymous with peddler or costermonger. In most places where the term is used, a hawker sells items or food that are native to the area...
has recently seen somewhat of a slowdown in most areas of Karachi, especially in regards to street food
Street food
Street food is ready-to-eat food or drink sold in a street or other public place, such as a market or fair, by a hawker or vendor, often from a portable stall. While some street foods are regional, many are not, having spread beyond their region of origin. Most street food are both finger and fast...
vendors.
Karachi has a thriving textiles industry, which is one of, if not the largest in Pakistan. This industry alone covers a vast variety of businesses, from large-scale suppliers that cater international demand in developed countries, to locally hand-made goods by grassroots vendors.
Most vendors in Karachi are open to bargaining, which is a common sight at most bazaars and among hawkers. As a result, prices of products vary immensely among every vendor, with the exception of upscale high-end shopping malls, which usually have fixed prices. In Karachi, it is also general knowledge to be cautious when bargaining with vendors, especially in bazaars and with hawkers, as they often sell substandard goods at high prices to unaware shoppers. Apparent foreigners, in particular, are often ripped off.
A major contributor to Karachi's wealth in shopping is that most of its residents belong to the middle class
Middle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
and relatively well-off.
Sports and Recreation
Cuisine
Meat (mainly beef) plays a more dominant role in Karachi food, CurriesCurry
Curry is a generic description used throughout Western culture to describe a variety of dishes from Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Thai or other Southeast Asian cuisines...
, pulses like Lentils, called dal
Dal
Dal is a preparation of pulses which have been stripped of their outer hulls and split. It also refers to the thick stew prepared from these, an important part of Indian, Nepali, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, and Bangladeshi cuisine...
, are also very popular. Of all the meats, the most popular are: beef, goat, chicken and seafood. Barbecue
Barbecue
Barbecue or barbeque , used chiefly in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia is a method and apparatus for cooking meat, poultry and occasionally fish with the heat and hot smoke of a fire, smoking wood, or hot coals of...
food is also extremely popular. Dishes made with rice include pullao and biryani
Biryani
Biryani, biriani, or beriani is a set of rice-based foods made with spices, rice and meat, fish, eggs or vegetables. The name is derived from the Persian word beryā which means "fried" or "roasted"....
. Different kinds of breads like: Chapati
Chapati
Chapati or Chapatti or Chapathi is an unleavened flatbread from the Indian subcontinent. Versions of it are found in Turkmenistan and in East African countries Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania...
, Naan
Naan
Naan is a leavened, oven-baked flatbread. It is typical of and popular in South and Central Asia, in Iran, and in South Asian restaurants abroad. Influenced by the large influx of South Asian labour, naan has also become popular in Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf states.Originally, naan is a...
, Tandoor bread
Tandoor bread
Tandoor bread is a type of bread baked in a clay oven called Tandoor....
, Paratha
Paratha
A paratha/parantha/parauntha is an Indian flat-bread that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Paratha is an amalgamation of the words parat and atta which literally means layers of cooked dough...
and Puri
Puri (food)
Puri ,Hindi पूरी , Urdu: بوری, Tamil பூரி , Kannada ಪೂರಿ , Oriya ପୁରି, is an unleavened Indian bread, commonly consumed in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and other countries of South Asia. It is eaten for breakfast or as a snack or light meal.Puri is most commonly served at breakfast...
are very popular.
Restaurants
Restaurants include Student BiryaniStudent Biryani
Student Biryani, previously called Student Cafe is a popular Pakistani food chain that is best known for selling its trademark biryani dish, called "Student Biryani."...
, Chaudry Mateen DineOne, BBQ Tonight, Pearl Continental Hotel Karachi, Pizza Hut, Penny Pizza, Subway, KFC, Mcdonalds, Biryani Centre, Dominos Pizza, Nandos, Papa Johns, Dunkin Donuts, Hot n' Spicy,Mr. Burger, Nimco, Salt 'n' Pepper Village Restaurants, Shan-e-Mughalia, Lal Qila, Usmania restaurant, Bundo Khan, Clifton Grill Restaurant and Copper Kettle.http://www.karachisnob.com/restaurants-karachi.htm
Most of these restaurants deliver to their clients at home.
http://www.karachisnob.com/restaurants_that_deliver_in_karachi.htm
In addition to these resurants there are also streets famous for their restaurants and cuisine, which include Boat Basin, Zamzama and Burns Road.
Festivals
Karachi is a festive city, and many religious and cultural festivities are observed across the city. Religious events like RamadanRamadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which lasts 29 or 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and...
, Chaand Raat
Chaand Raat
Chaand Raat is a Hindi, Urdu and Bengali locution used in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh for the eve of the Muslim festival of Eid ul-Fitr; it can also mean a night with a full moon.Chaand Raat is a time of celebration when families and friends gather in open areas at the end of the last day of...
, Eid
Eid ul-Fitr
Eid ul-Fitr, Eid al-Fitr, Id-ul-Fitr, or Id al-Fitr , often abbreviated to Eid, is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting . Eid is an Arabic word meaning "festivity," while Fiṭr means "breaking the fast"...
, Milad un Nabi and Ashura
Day of Ashura
The Day of Ashura is on the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar and marks the climax of the Remembrance of Muharram.It is commemorated by Shia Muslims as a day of mourning for the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala on 10...
are among the most prominent festivities and are observed passionately with fervor. Shopping reaches its peak during the Eid season, as not only established businesses but vendors from all over the country come to the city to sell their goods to the city's large population, a majority of which is middle class
Middle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
and relatively well-off compared to most other parts of the country. Many rallies and parades are carried out during the events of Milaad un Nabi, Ashura, Jashn-e-Baharan and Nowruz by religious leaders and followers all across the city. Ethnic and religious minorities, like Christians, Hindus, Ismailis etc. also celebrate their events, although not on as large a scale as Islamic events.
Independence Day
Independence Day
An Independence Day is an annual event commemorating the anniversary of a nation's assumption of independent statehood, usually after ceasing to be a colony or part of another nation or state, and more rarely after the end of a military occupation...
, which takes place on August 14, is also a very important event for all Karachiites. A national holiday
National holiday
National holiday may refer to:*A National Day, in which a country celebrates its independence, establishment or an otherwise significant event....
is commenced all over the country on this date, as homes are decorated with flags and patriotic embellishments, and children sing patriotic songs, known as milli naghmas, to show their love for their nation. The festivity of this day is such that a small cottage industry has emerged in large cities, like Karachi, to supply the decoration demands of Independence Day. And although not as feverish as Independence Day, Defence Day is also passionately observed across the city on 6 September every year.
Pakistan Day or Resolution Day is observed on 23 March every year.
Television
There are numerous channels which have their headquarters in KarachiGeo TV, Dawn , ARY, PTV, Samaa and Duniya news have tv stations in Karachi.
Cinema
Karachi film industry had its golden days in 1960s when some of the prominent film studios were located in KarachiKarachi
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...
, making films for the viewership of a large and growing working-class population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
. With a metropolitan area
Metropolitan area
The term metropolitan area refers to a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories, sharing industry, infrastructure, and housing. A metropolitan area usually encompasses multiple jurisdictions and municipalities: neighborhoods, townships,...
the film viewership is still popular in Karachi. However, the interest has shifted more towards the Hollywood
Cinema of the United States
The cinema of the United States, also known as Hollywood, has had a profound effect on cinema across the world since the early 20th century. Its history is sometimes separated into four main periods: the silent film era, classical Hollywood cinema, New Hollywood, and the contemporary period...
and other international productions. One of the reasons for the shifting trends is attributed to the moving of film-making industry to Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, locally termed as Lollywood
Lollywood
Lollywood refers to the Pakistani film industry based in the city of Lahore. The word "Lollywood" was first coined in the summer of 1989 in the now defunct magazine "Glamour" published from Karachi by a gossip columnist Saleem Nasir. The film industry in Lahore started in 1929 with the opening of...
. There are several hundred cinema theatres in Karachi with releases in Urdu, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, Sindhi
Sindhi language
Sindhi is the language of the Sindh region of Pakistan that is spoken by the Sindhi people. In India, it is among 22 constitutionally recognized languages, where Sindhis are a sizeable minority. It is spoken by 53,410,910 people in Pakistan, according to the national government's Statistics Division...
, Punjabi
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
, Pashtu, Balochi
Balochi language
Balochi is a Northwestern Iranian language. It is the principal language of the Baloch of Balochistan, Pakistan, eastern Iran and southern Afghanistan. It is also spoken as a second language by some Brahui. It is designated as one of nine official languages of Pakistan.-Vowels:The Balochi vowel...
, etc.
National Dress
The national dress of Karachi is Shalwar Qameez is a traditional dress worn by both women and men in Pakistan and AfghanistanAfghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. Shalwar are loose pajama
Pajamas
Pajamas, also spelled pyjamas , can refer to several related types of clothing. The original paijama are loose, lightweight trousers fitted with drawstring waistbands and worn in South and West Asia by both sexes...
-like trousers
Trousers
Trousers are an item of clothing worn on the lower part of the body from the waist to the ankles, covering both legs separately...
. The legs are wide at the top, and narrow at the bottom. The Qameez is a long shirt or tunic. The side seams (known as the chaak) are left open below the waist-line, which gives the wearer greater freedom of movement.
Politics
The city nazim is Mustafa Kamal. He belongs to the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM).Karachi is mainly supportive of MQM, followed by Jamaat Islami, PPP, PMLQ and ANP.http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_14-2-2005_pg7_44
The previous mayor of Karachi was Naimatullah Khan who was from Jamaat Islami party.
Other parties have offices in Karachi such PML -N and Awami Muslim League.
Ethnic communities
One of the uniqueness of the Karachi which is not found in other famous cities of the globe is its tolerance to its dwellers to maintain their basic ethnic identity, lifestyles and live together in their respective neighborhoods. For example, KiamariKiamari
Kiamari is one of the neighbourhood of Kiamari Town in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.There are several ethnic groups in Kiamari including Muhajirs, Punjabis, Sindhis, Kashmiris, Seraikis, Pakhtuns, Balochis, Memons, Bohras, Ismailis, etc. Over 99% of the population is Muslim. The population of Kiamari...
is known for the Pakhtuns or Kharadar is for Memons and Agha Khanis
Ismaili
' is a branch of Shia Islam. It is the second largest branch of Shia Islam, after the Twelvers...
, similarly Lyari
Lyari
Lyari is one of the neighbourhoods of Lyari Town in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.There are several ethnic groups in Lyari including Muhajirs, Punjabis, Sindhis, Kashmiris, Seraikis, Pakhtuns, Balochis, Memons, Bohras Ismailis, etc. Over 99% of the population is Muslim...
is known for Baloch
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....
and Memons, Nazimabad
Nazimabad
Nazimabad is a middle-class suburb of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.Nazimabad was developed starting in 1952 to settle Muslim refugees in Pakistan. This suburb was named after Khawaja Nazimuddin who was the second Governor-General of Pakistan, and later the second Prime Minister of Pakistan as well...
and Liaquatabad
Liaquatabad
Liaquatabad is a neighborhood of Liaquatabad Town in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Liaquatabad was named after Nawabzada Liaquat Ali Khan, the first Prime Minister of Pakistan....
are known for Muhajirs (Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
speaking people), because here in Karachi communities prefer to live in groups or Jamaats or their ‘own kind’, instead of living scattered, as according to mindset of Pakistani people (who being divided in distinctive cultures / identities) it is in their own interest. The mentality has been reinforced as a result of serious clashes which have taken in recent past among different ethnic groups in this city.
Karachi in Popular Culture of Sindh
Karachi has been sung in many Sindhi songs, notably the folk songs sung in Sindhi marriages, called SehraSehra
A Sehra is a headdress worn by the groom during Indian weddings. It has garlands hanging that covers the face of the groom...
(سهرا) and Ladda (لاڏا) such as:
آيلڙي مون ته سُئي وڃائي
ڪراچيءَ جي شهر مان مون سُئي گھُرائي
sung by Zarina Baloch
Zarina Baloch
Zarina Baloch was a Pakistani folk music singer and composer. She was also an actress, writer, teacher, political and social worker....
and
ڪراچيءَ جي شهر مان منڊيون جوڙايم
سونا گل ڪراچيءَ جي موٽر ڀرجي آيا
In addition, Karachi is also known for the legend of Morirro Mirbahar, whose braveness has been praised and sung by Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai in his poetry. This legend story has also been picturized in a Sindhi movie Ghatoo Ghar na Ayaa (In Sindhi گھاتُو گھر نه آيا).
Karachi jaa ddeeha' aee' raatioo' (In Sindhi ڪراچيءَ جا ڏينهن ۽ راتيون), Days and Nights of Karachi is a novel written by Muhammad Bakhsh Johar.
See also
- Culture of PakistanCulture of PakistanThe society and culture of Pakistan comprises numerous diverse cultures and ethnic groups: the Punjabis, Kashmiris, Sindhis in east, Muhajirs, Makrani in the south; Baloch and Pashtun in the west; and the ancient Dardic, Wakhi and Burusho communities in the north...
- KarachiKarachiKarachi 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...
- History of KarachiHistory of KarachiThe area of Karachi , in Sindh, Pakistan was known to the ancient Greeks by many names: Krokola, where Alexander the Great camped in Sindh to prepare a fleet for Babylonia after his campaign in the Indus valley; 'Morontobara' port , from where Alexander's admiral Nearchus sailed for back home; and...
- Climate of KarachiClimate of KarachiThe climate of Karachi features an arid climate, albeit a moderate version of this climate. Karachi is located on the coast and as a result has a relatively mild climate. Karachi has two main seasons; Summer & Winter, while spring and autumn are very short. Summer season persists for longest period...
- City District Government of Karachi
- List of mayors of Karachi
- List of Union Councils of Karachi
- Demographics of KarachiDemographics of KarachiKarachi is the largest and most populous city in Pakistan. The population and demographic distribution in the megacity has undergone numerous changes over the past 150 years. On 14 August 1947, when it became the capital city of a new Dominion of Pakistan, its population was about 450,000 inhabitants...
- Economy of KarachiEconomy of KarachiKarachi is referred as the financial capital of Pakistan; it accounts for a lion's share of Pakistan's revenue generation. It generates approximately 53.38% of the total collections of the Federal Board of Revenue, out of which 53.33% are customs duty and sales tax on imports. Karachi produces...
- Cinema in KarachiCinema in KarachiCinema in Karachi or Kariwood had its golden days in 1960s when some of the prominent film studios were located in Karachi, making films for the viewership of a large and growing working-class population....
- List of schools in Karachi
- List of colleges in Karachi
- List of universities in Karachi
- List of sports venues in Karachi
- List of police stations in Karachi
- Karachi International AirportJinnah International AirportJinnah International Airport is Pakistan's largest international and domestic airport. It is located in Karachi, Pakistan, and its passenger terminal is also commonly known as the جناح ٹرمینل Jinnah Terminal...
- Port of KarachiPort of KarachiThe Port of Karachi is Pakistan's largest and busiest seaport, handling about 60% of the nation's cargo . It is located between the Karachi towns of Kiamari and Saddar, close to the main business district and several industrial areas. The geographic position of the port places it in close...
- Karachi Building Control AuthorityKarachi Building Control AuthorityKarachi Building Control Authority , is a regulatory in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Karachi Building Control Authority is a regulatory and supervisory body whose prime function is to ensure that the approval of building plans and No Objection Certificates etc. are in conformation with the existing...
- Sheedi MelaSheedi MelaThe Sheedi Mela or Sheedi Jaat or Pir Mangho Urs The festival is famous for the role of the sacred crocodiles of the shrine, and the African-influence rituals of the Sheedi community. The festival attracts many people of all ethnic groups...
- Pir Mangho UrsPir Mangho UrsPir Mangho Urs is an annual festival at the shrine of Sufi Pir Mangho Haji Syed Sakhi Sultan at Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. The urs marks the death anniversary of Pir Mangho and is held annually in the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah...