Shehr e Quaid

Shehr e Quaid“May All Be Blessed In This City”

(Prayer offered at the inauguration of KMC building, 1932)

These visuals are intended to take you back into time as a fishing village converts itself into a mighty city of the world

and plays its role against all odds . My Karachi is an effort in that direction. To quote the words of Sir Charles Napier

“You will yet be the glory of the East; would that I could come again,

to see you in your grandeur“

I further dedicate these visuals to the Unknown Photographers

who must have thought that some day in the distant future you too will go through Memory Lane and proudly claim

‘Yes, This is My Karachi’.

Qaizar Saifee 2012

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FromKolachi & Kurrachee

To

My Karachi

Acrylic by: S Tanveer Shams

Gateway to Karachi, Manora Island

Light House was first built as a light station in 1851 by the British . One of the oldest Light Stations in the former British Indian Empire.

Rebuilt in 1889 and still operational as navigational aid for ships.

With its Hyper radiant Fresnel Lens installed in 1909, it is capable of emitting high intensity flashes visible from 16 – 18 miles off.With an inside diameter of 2.66 metres the revolving lens unit weighed 6 tons and floated on mercury so that it could be turned with one finger.

Karachi Harbour East Wharf (Now Keamari) 1888.

Keamari Passenger Terminal, East Wharf 1947.

Native Jetty through time…..

Napier Mole Bridge Native Jetty over Chinna Creek connecting Keamari Port with the main land , popularly known as Nety Jety built in 1864.

Now turned into Food Street, Port Grand.

P.N.S.C. Building and Native Jetty Bridge over Chinna Creek

Photo: Qaizar Saifee 1973

A unique ship shape structure unlike traditional Mughal or Gothic style building of the British Raj.

Permanently anchored in Chinna Creek, the keel of the Land ship “Jamshed Nusserwanji was laid in 1946 by Sir Lancelot Graham, the viceroy of the pre-partition India.

Fazal Saifee 1959

Built to serve as the Sea Headquarter for Karachi Sea Scouts.

Named after the noble man, Jamshed Nusserwanji Mehta the first elected Mayor of Karachi, known as the “Maker of Modern Karachi” and a notable figure in Pakistan Boy Scouts Association.

Qaizar Saifee 1970

Qaizar Saifee 1973

Karachi Port Trust established in 1886 as Port Authority

Karachi Port Trust Building constructed in 1915


Camel Cart… A popular means of transport 1947.

……Still going strong.

Merewether Tower built in memory of Sir William Merewether, commissioner of Sindh 1884.

Merewether Memorial Tower


Jaffer Fuddoo Dispensary & Clock Tower located near Matchi Miyani Market ( famous fish market ) Kharadar.Built in 1904 by a Muslim Philanthropist Jaffer Fuddoo, editor & proprietor of the first English newspaper “Phoenix”managed by native people.

Jaffer Fuddoo Dispensary & Clock Tower

Today a new facility, Kutiana Memon Hospital has been built around the original old building without losing its glory. The old building serves as the administration block of the hospital.

Street Photographer and Minute Camera

Long before the invent of Polaroid instant camera, this 2 cubic foot magic box called “Minute Camera” was a common site on Karachi streets from 60’s till late 90’s.

One could choose an artfully painted backdrop of a Palatial house, a lion or a celebrity of his choice. All this for just 10 rupees back in 80’s.

This Camera cum Darkroom was designed in 1910 with a built in processing facility providing finished photos within minutes.

Surprisingly it still survives in many parts of the world including my Karachi in this digital age.

One of the first Muslim Schools established in the British India.

Sindh Madressatul Islam

ENTER TO LEARN GO FORTH TO SERVE

Khan Bahadur Hassan Ali Effandi

Khan Bahadur Hassan Ali Effandi, most prominent educationist and reformer of Sindh influenced by the Indian Muslim educationist Sir Syed Ahmed Khan founded Sindh Madressatul Islam in 1885.The first Alma Mater of Quaid e Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah when he joined the Madressa in 1887.

Max Denso Hall and Library Bandar Road built in 1886.

Max Denso Hall & Jehangir Kothari Building(View towards Saddar)

Max Denso Hall(View towards Merewether Tower)

Karachi Municipal Corporation BuildingFoundation Stone laid in 1895Foundations laid in 1915Main construction work started in 1927 and completed in 1931.Inaugurated on January 7, 1932 with the prayer “ May All Be Blessed In This City”

One of the finest example of Indo-Colonial architecture and land mark of Karachi.

This building has the honour of being visited by over 80 heads of states including:Queen Elizabeth of Britain, late Shah Faisal of Saudi Arabia, Yasir Arafat of Palestine, Shah Hussain of Jordan and Moammar Qadafi of Libiya.

Khaliqdina Hall M.A. Jinnah Road ( Bundar Road )Built in 1906.

Named after a philanthropist Ghulam Hoosain Khaliqdina. Assumed historical significance in 1921, when chosen by the British authorities to host Maulana Mohammed Ali Johar’s famous trial of Khilafat Movement. Later the building became a symbol of resistance against British Raj.

Mohatta Palace 1927Built by Shivratan Chandraratan Mohatta, a Marwar businessman as his summer home. After partition in 1947 Government of Pakistan acquired the building to house the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.During 1964 and 1980 occupied by Mohtarma Fatma Jinnah and Shireen Jinnah.In 1995 purchased by Government of Sindh for conversion into Museum.

Designed on Mughal Architecture replicating Rajasthan Stone Palaces, this luxurious home is built on 18,500 sq.ft. on different levels including a secret underground tunnel leading from the palace all the way to a subterranean Hindu Temple. This magnificent building is trimmed with intricately carved stone brackets, balusters, arches and domes.Mohatta Palace presently serves as a museum devoted to arts & crafts of Pakistan.

Seth Jehangir Hormusji Kothari, a prominent philanthropist of Parsi community gifted his home & adjacent land to the Municipality of Karachi for the building of the parade in 1920.

The 1300 ft. long terraced parade for access to the sea at Clifton, known as Jehangir Kothari Parade was built around 1921.Now part of Bagh Ibn e Qasim after renovation and restoration in its original splendor by City Dist. Govt. in 2007.

The Grand Band Stand seen in the background was built by Kavasji Hormusji Katrak in 1926 and gifted to the people of Karachi

Inaugurated as Sindh Arts Colege in 1882.Renamed as D J Science College upon completion of the present structure in 1887.Named after its main benefactor, a philanthropist from Sindh Diwan Dayaram Jethamal.The Institute celebrated 125 years of service in 2012.

D J Science College (Diwan Dayaram Jethamal Science College)

Notable Graduates from the Institute

Ziaur Rehman (Former President of Bangladesh)

Abdul Qadeer Khan (Nuclear Scientist)

Peirzada Qasim (ex-Vice Chancellor Karachi University, Vice Chancellor Ziauddin University)

Adeebul Hasan Rizvi (founder SIUT)

Kamran Ashraf (National hockey player)

Shahid Ali Khan (National hockey player)

Sohail Rana (composer)

Bashir Syed (Solar Physicist, Research Scientist, NASA)

Ardeshir Cowasjee (columnist)

Hammad Khaliq (Project Manager CDGK CCIMS 1339)

Shahid Karimullah (Chief of Naval Staff Pakistan Navy

Edulji Dinshaw Dispensary built in 1882 by Seth Edulji Dinshaw, one of the foremost philanthropist from pre partition Karachi.Seth Edulji Dinshaw known for his charitable work was also a trustee of Karachi Port Trust and Member Karachi Municipal Corporation.

Edulji Dinshaw Dispensary still functional stands at the intersection of Preedy Street and Raja Ghazanfar Ali Road next to the Tramway Junction of the yester years.

1895

Empress Market

Central Karachi’s main landnark, dominated by Gothic Mughal style structure.Built between 1884—1889.

Empress Market most popular & busy shopping center, named after Queen Victoria the Empress of India during the British Raj.

Mashki or Bihishti( Persian word meaning water

carrier )A very common site among all silver heads of my generation. An age old method of water supply for domestic use uptill 60’sBefore the electric water pumps or even hand pumps came into use, Mashki was the only source of water supply to the 3rd floor of a building.

The “Mashk” or leather bag made of cow hide could carry approximately 15 gallons of water.One of the most primitive methods still in use in some parts of the city.

1885: Steam Tramway opened in Karachi

1910: The First Petrol Tram in the World introduced. 46 seater 8 miles per gallon with petrol at 4 annas (quarter of a Rupee) per gallon.

1945: Diesel Tramcars introduced replacing Petrol Trams

1949: Mohammadali Tramway Company bought East India Tramway Co.

1955: Fleet of 64 Tram cars numbered from 94 to 157 ran from Keamari to Cantonment railway Station connecting Chakiwara, Gandhi Garden, Soldier Bazar, Bolton Market and Saddar.1975: Karachi Tramway was closed down.

Royal carriage locally known as Victoria or Ghora Gari, remained a common man’s popular transport for the family up till 80’s . Now used for ceremonial purposes on traditional weddings .

Zaib un Nisa Street (Elphinston Street) Saddar 1947

Shahrah e Iraq (Clarke Street) Saddar 1900

Dr Daud Pota Road ( Frere Street ) Saddar 1900

Shabbir Saifee 1949

Shabbir Saifee 1950

Old city area North Napier Road 1949

Regal Cinema 1950

Frere Hall

Constructed in 1863 in honour of Sir Henry Bartle Edward Frere, known for promoting economic development in Karachi.It was used as a Town Hall during the British Raj.


Bagh e Jinnah (Frere Hall )

Houses a Library and Gallery of paintings by Pakistani Iconic artist Sadequain.Home to famous mural called “Arz o Samawat “ by Sadequain.On sundays the courtyard serves as a Book Bazar and meeting place for the “Bookworms” of Karachi.

[email protected]

2012

Shehr e Quaid

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