Zaibunnisa Street
Encyclopedia
Zaibunnisa Street is a famous street in Karachi
, Pakistan
. Located in the neighbourhood of Saddar
, in the heart of the city, it is one of Karachi's oldest and historic streets.
It was originally known as Elphinstone Street, in honour of a British official Monstuart Elphinstone (1779–1859), who played an important role in India. He was the first British ambassador to Afghanistan, and helped defeat the Peshwas in Maharashtra, both before 1820. He served as Governor of Bombay Presidency - of which Karachi was a part until the 1930s. In 1970, its name was changed to 'Zaibunnisa Street' by the government of Karachi, in honour of Zaib-un-Nissa Hamidullah
, an influential Pakistani journalist and writer.
Zaibunnisa Street is one of Karachi's most renowned shopping districts. In addition, some consulates and hotels are also found on the street. It is one of the city's most vital arteries, and, as such, is subjected to a lot of pollution from transport.
Before the population and pollution explosions in Karachi, it was called Karachi's Piccadilly Circus
by foreigners, as it is lined with historic colonial buildings from the British Raj
era.
Since Saddar
does not house a sizeable residential population, it has suffered in financial terms from the development of other shopping districts in areas which have a significant residential population as people no longer have to travel to Saddar in order to purchase goods. The jewellery and the men's footwear markets have been particularly affected since these make up most of Zaibunnisa street's shops. Despite this, major stores of Karachi such as Bata, Chottani Jewelers, English Boot House, Sputnik Footwear and Fitrite continue to have a presence in the market, although business seems to be declining. There are large sections of Karachiites who feel that the city administration of Karachi should utilise the historical architecture of Zaibunnisa Street as leverage in order to revive the market. Shopkeepers feel that the city administration should give the street's severely detriorating architecture some much needed attention and organise a marketing campaign in order to attract people back to Karachi's most cultural shopping district.
Being an important road joining Garden (and surrounding areas) with Shahrah-e-Faisal, Zaibunnisa Street suffers from persistent traffic. This too, has discouraged former shoppers from visiting Saddar since it is very difficult to find parking spots. Local businessmen have requested the city government to either organise parking in nearby areas (and shuttle services for shoppers) or making Zaibunnisa Street a pedestrian-only zone which could help re-attract customers from all over the city.
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...
, 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...
. Located in the neighbourhood of Saddar
Saddar
Saddar is one of the neighbourhoods of Saddar Town in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Saddar is the central business district of Karachi. 'Saddar' generally means 'centre' and also 'head' ....
, in the heart of the city, it is one of Karachi's oldest and historic streets.
It was originally known as Elphinstone Street, in honour of a British official Monstuart Elphinstone (1779–1859), who played an important role in India. He was the first British ambassador to Afghanistan, and helped defeat the Peshwas in Maharashtra, both before 1820. He served as Governor of Bombay Presidency - of which Karachi was a part until the 1930s. In 1970, its name was changed to 'Zaibunnisa Street' by the government of Karachi, in honour of Zaib-un-Nissa Hamidullah
Zaib-un-Nissa Hamidullah
Zaib-un-Nissa Hamidullah was a pioneer of Pakistani literature and journalism in English, and also a pioneer of feminism in Pakistan, West Pakistan till 1971. She was Pakistan's first female columnist , editor, publisher and political commentator...
, an influential Pakistani journalist and writer.
Zaibunnisa Street is one of Karachi's most renowned shopping districts. In addition, some consulates and hotels are also found on the street. It is one of the city's most vital arteries, and, as such, is subjected to a lot of pollution from transport.
Before the population and pollution explosions in Karachi, it was called Karachi's Piccadilly Circus
Piccadilly Circus
Piccadilly Circus is a road junction and public space of London's West End in the City of Westminster, built in 1819 to connect Regent Street with the major shopping street of Piccadilly...
by foreigners, as it is lined with historic colonial buildings from 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...
era.
Since Saddar
Saddar
Saddar is one of the neighbourhoods of Saddar Town in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Saddar is the central business district of Karachi. 'Saddar' generally means 'centre' and also 'head' ....
does not house a sizeable residential population, it has suffered in financial terms from the development of other shopping districts in areas which have a significant residential population as people no longer have to travel to Saddar in order to purchase goods. The jewellery and the men's footwear markets have been particularly affected since these make up most of Zaibunnisa street's shops. Despite this, major stores of Karachi such as Bata, Chottani Jewelers, English Boot House, Sputnik Footwear and Fitrite continue to have a presence in the market, although business seems to be declining. There are large sections of Karachiites who feel that the city administration of Karachi should utilise the historical architecture of Zaibunnisa Street as leverage in order to revive the market. Shopkeepers feel that the city administration should give the street's severely detriorating architecture some much needed attention and organise a marketing campaign in order to attract people back to Karachi's most cultural shopping district.
Being an important road joining Garden (and surrounding areas) with Shahrah-e-Faisal, Zaibunnisa Street suffers from persistent traffic. This too, has discouraged former shoppers from visiting Saddar since it is very difficult to find parking spots. Local businessmen have requested the city government to either organise parking in nearby areas (and shuttle services for shoppers) or making Zaibunnisa Street a pedestrian-only zone which could help re-attract customers from all over the city.
See also
- Zaib-un-Nissa HamidullahZaib-un-Nissa HamidullahZaib-un-Nissa Hamidullah was a pioneer of Pakistani literature and journalism in English, and also a pioneer of feminism in Pakistan, West Pakistan till 1971. She was Pakistan's first female columnist , editor, publisher and political commentator...
- List of famous streets of Karachi