Karachi
A street scene in Karachi, Pakistan. Rapidly developing from its origins as a small fishing village in the early 18th century, Karachi has become the main port for Pakistan, and was the national capital 1947–59. It is a financial, commercial, and industrial centre, with a rapidly expanding population.
Largest city and chief port of Pakistan, lying on the Arabian Sea, northwest of the Indus delta; population (1998) 9,339,000, (2007 calc) 12,315,800. It is the capital of Sind province, and Pakistan's leading centre for commerce, finance, industry, and transport. Its port handles most of the international trade of the country, as well as of the neighbouring landlocked state of Afghanistan. It is also served by a major international airport. Industries include shipbuilding, engineering, chemicals, plastics, and textiles, including the manufacture of cotton and jute. It was the capital of Pakistan 1947–59, when it was replaced by Islamabad.
Recent history
Karachi has developed rapidly since the mid-19th century. In 1947, when it was established as the capital of the new state of Pakistan, an influx of Indian refugees expanded the population. During the first half of 1995 the city was the scene of ongoing factional violence between rival Muslim groups and police and security forces; nearly 1,000 people were killed. About 1,500 people died in riots over the period 1995–96. New satellite towns such as Nazimabad and Liaqatabad have been built to house the city's growing population.
| Karachi is the home of the University of Karachi, founded in 1951, as well as of NED University of Engineering and Technology; other notable landmarks include the tomb of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan's first governor general from 1947. |
| Natural gas is brought to Karachi by pipeline from Sui, 563 km/350 mi to the north, and there is an oil refinery at nearby Korangi. A nuclear power plant has been developed at Paradise Point, 25 km/15 mi to the west of the city. |
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