KARACHI WALAY & THEIR CHARACTERISTICS

By Aftab Ahmed Baloch

Before the article:

Dear readers the following article (based upon my personal observations) is about beautiful people of Karachi & their different cultural behaviors i.e. traits fused in different flavors & backgrounds….. The article is in pure ‘awami language’ & uncensored! While elaborating the article & digging through realities (whatever good or bad), I tried to remain objective, however, the purpose of article is not to disparage any minority’s culture or religious belief. It will also be helpful for all kind of tourists. 

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It is Karachi, the mini Pakistan! A jungle of concrete, consisting of different people all over Pakistan from diverse ethnic & rich social / cultural / religious backgrounds. On one hand, it is the abode of early Baloch settlers (the aborigines), the Memons, Kachis, Sindhis, Agha Khanis, Parsis, Christians, Hindus on the other hand it is the abode of Indian returned Mohajirs (now claimant of the city) i.e. Urdu speaking folks, Pakhtoons, Punjabis, Afghanis, Bengalis, Burmese etc. Muslim majority are further ‘categorized’ in unending ‘religious series’ / sects like Sunni, Shiite, Brailvee, Deobandi, and Ahel-e-Hadeeth etc.Karachi, which began as a small fishing village has now emerged as the largest populated city of Pakistan with a population of over 18 Millions, whereas it was only comprised of about 9,000 citizens in 1846!. Being an economic magnet, the city is like Dubai both for the people arriving from remote parts of the country and for the illegal immigrants like Afghanis, Bengalis, Burmese, Nepalese but Karachi is ‘generous enough’ to provide them jobs, shelters, facilities in return of nothing but troubles. Now the human flood have blown up all the district boundaries of the city, currently stretching from superhighway (Hyderabad) to the sea coast of Hawks bay, Paradise Point & other beach sites upto Bin Qasim Port.UNIQUE NATURE OF THE CITY:One of the uniqueness of Karachi (which is extinct in other famous world cities) is it tolerance that each & every minority maintain their own cultural identity, lifestyles, based on different locations. In Karachi cultural diversity changes from kilometer to kilometer. For example, in Karachi, Keamari or Patail Para are the places of Pakhtoons, where Pakhtoon diverse culture is in full swing. Here you can find naswar or gizmo shops, tea stalls, Chapli Kababs, Pakhtoon music altogether, similarly Kharadar is known for Memons / Agha Khanis, where beautiful Memon girls can be seen near Bantva Hospital or Paria street. Special memni dishes are also available here. This place is one of the congested parts of the city, where every nook & corner is occupied by shops, flats etc. There is no playground or open places, because Memons are quite famous for their willingness to money, they’ll die for it. There are various jokes for Memons. For example, if a Memon falls to the ground, there must be money on it. Attached Kharadar is the oldest settlement of Karachi i.e. Lyari which is known for Balochs, besides Kachis, Bohris & Memons are too residing there. This area is quite notorious for gangsters & dacoits. Normally, after sunset, taxi & rickshaw drivers hesitate to book passengers for this place. Balochs wear their typical large shalwar & small qameez, besides ladies use typical Balochi dresses. There is also a little Africa in Lyari, where dark skinned people abode. Their descendents were brought from Zanzibar as slaves during British rule around 1850s to 1900s. (my Lyari based articles like ‘The new Lyari & the Land of magic will give you more insights about this minority). Now we’ll discuss the ‘sole owners’ of city, yes the Bhai log (the Urdu speaking folks). They are those who were migrated from India during pre-partition, instead of their eye opening sacrifice, no province accepted them, except Sindhis & Balochis, initially they were given land near Mazar-e-Quaid, but now are grabbing major portion of the city. Thanks to city Nazim Mustafa Kamal’s vision, various part of the city and major Urdu speaking areas have changed in overnight. Beautiful bridges, under passes, bus stops are the hallmark of city. Majority of Urdu speaking areas are known as Nazimabad, Nagan Chowrangi, North Karachi, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Gulshan-e-Hadeed etc. Roads, buildings & streets in their dominant areas can be seen illustrated with Qaid pics & farmaans (here Qaid means Altaf Hussain & not Quaid-e-Azam). In these areas, level of education is quite higher, & without doubt every Mohajir‘s home carries the largest number of educated people as compared to any nationalities in Karachi i.e. why they enjoy 90% of jobs in public / private sectors but still they considered them as ‘mazloom’. Dress codes for male Mohajirs are normally pant shirts, while girls wear latest fashion shalwar qameez & jeans. Saari (a typical Indian dress) is also used by older ladies during their marriage ceremonies. The famous stage comedian Mr. Omar Sharif also belongs from this community. They are also the inventor of Bori culture i.e. during Mutahida/ Haqiqi clash, they targeted each other by killing & throwing the body in flour bags (borees). The place for Bengalis is at Machar colony (Machar means mosquitoes, because this is the dirties place in Karachi, where poor Bengalis are ‘kept’), Majority of the male & female Bengalis perform labor jobs at fisheries, factories or house maids / servants besides all the of sugarcane extracting machines in city are mostly owned & operated by Bengalis. Malir is known for Sindhis, where they enjoy their unique culture. Sindhis love their land so much & they are quite attached with their forefather’s culture i.e. why they are found in less number in Karachi city area as compared to urban. There is no specific place in Karachi for Punjabis, although there exists Punjab Chowrangi, near DHA, which is a posh area, Punjabis are rather scattered in all city. Majority of male Punjabis are in the police, rangers & working as security guards, while females do their jobs as a Nurse, teacher, police lady & what not as prostitutes! Yes, I bet Punjabi girls fulfill the 90% ‘demand’ of the country; girls from Lahore & Gujrat are brought in Karachi for this ‘business’. Every minority in Karachi maintains their own culture without adopting others and this has been happening for centuries. This approach also provide security & power and during various ethnic violence, it proved correct & also wrong in the meaning that any individual, belonging from specific minority cannot trespass other areas during the time of ethnic violence.

For example, recently during Pakhtoon Mohajir ethnic clash, both Mohajirs & Pakhtoons were targeted in opposite areas. Because of this many areas within Karachi have become as ‘No go areas’. Back in the past, several hundred people were targeted & slaughtered during Muttahida & Haqiqi clash (interestingly both parties are from Urdu speaking), similarly in Lyari, during gang war various areas were divided & controlled by different mafia, where they target & kill opponents, irrespective of the fact that they are from the same race.

 THE HARD SHELL RACIST:

In Karachi there are also minorities living in hard shell or within boundaries, they are totally isolated, and nobody knows much about them. The best examples are the Bohra community (followers of Syedana Burhanuddin or Faitimi). They are famous for their stubborn behavior, though in minority they cater a large leading business groups in Karachi and they are the prime holders in hardware, glass & paint business. Bohris, living in Hyderi are much richer than living in Lyari.

Like their close cousin Memons, Bohris are famous for their miserliness and mean behavior, and they are always found within tight boundaries & groups, and they do not live separately or individually. Their every friendship, kinship & romance is within community. Their compounds are always surrounded by boundary walls so that no outsider can enter. They, for any business, always deal with their own kind. Normally they are not interested or encourage the cross relation, marriage or friendship with other nationalities, because violation means total bereavement or expulsion from the Jamaat.

Their men often wear traditional white cap having golden embroidery with Kurta / Pajamas while their women use Burka (consisting in two parts in light colors with face open). According to their religious belief, women rarely use any make-up or lipsticks for any occasion. The face of any Bohri girl will be zombie like & impression free, the reason is according to their religious understanding they circumcise their girls like men in early age (before puberty), by removing clitoris (erectile organ of vulva) which is assumed as a sex point. Thus a Bohri girl is by borne sex free & boring. For them, mating is only for producing children, hence not to satisfy sexual desires. This surgical removal ritual is also performed in other part of Muslim countries like Egypt & Africa. In every Bohri shop you’ll find a photo hanging, of their Peer (Syedna Burhanuddin). Bohri men & women together go to their mosque and chant in high tones, like Christians during their prayer service. They celebrate their Eid & Ramadan, slightly in different days as compared to other Muslim minorities. They also arrange group marriages, when their Peer arrives from abroad. It is quite compulsive for any Bohri men & women that they must attend their all sacred ceremonies.

As a religious group, beside Bohris, the Agha Khanis (often known as Khojas – the disciples of Prince Karim Agha Khan) are also known for their narrow mindedness / racist approach. In their every institution, they prefer their own people, be it hospitals, schools or other organizations. They also hang their Peer’s portrait in their every places. In Schools, they prefer their own community’s children, which can be endorsed through their Admission Forms, containing ‘SECT’ section to be filled compulsory. In school’s class rooms, children from Non-Agha Khanis (if they are fortunate enough to get admission after handsome paying of donations) are normally seated at the back rows & this fact was revealed by various non Agha Khanis students! Agha Khan Hospital is the most notorious place for extracting huge amount of money. If anyone dies, they do not discharge dead bodies without paying outstanding dues.

In Karachi, people from other religious sects like Shiite are also known for their ‘boundary wall approach’. In Karachi there are whole colonies of Shiites can be found where they practice their own belief system. During marriages & even friendship this weighs more importance, whereas Katchis, Marvarees & to some extent Balochs are also known for their rigid approach, non community relations & especially cross marriages do not exist all.

TRIBALISM & RELIGIOUS GIMMICKS :

Wherever there is rigid tribalism, there lies backwardness. This phenomena can be understood more easily if we compare global examples like Aborigines of Australia, Red Indians, Afghans, various African / Indian Tribes i.e. those who were not fit in the evolutionary chain or their approach to adaptations has either become wiped out or slow. Religious fever (if clashed with culture) also eats up cultural traits & identity and a prime cause of backwardness. Here in Karachi (the mini Pakistan) same formula goes. The areas which are packed with tribal thinking people are much lower in standard & progress than the areas which occupied by multi ethnic, educated and moderate people. For example there are Kachi abadies & colonies in Karachi of different minorities which are much lower in standard & progress. The reason is the people with tribal mentality are progress retarded, they don’t believe in dynamism, besides the deliberate government negligence is also part of the problem. The Pathans are known as Qabza Group in the city, be it Keamari, Shereen Jinnah Colony, Patail Para, Banaras, hills of Manghopir, Landhi / Korangi, SITE area or Pakhtoon population near railway tracks of Baloch Colony etc. all these less developed areas are packed with Pakhtoon brothers where they enjoy their typical culture, 90% of local transport business has been owned by Pathans what's more that religious extremism is the part & parcel of their lives. 99% percent of suicide bombers are of Afghan or Pakhtoon origin. They also have eased the job of Ministry of Population & Welfare by blowing them out with 30-60 causalities on routine basis with direct ticket to Janna or running over folks through trucks, dumpers & mini buses are their favorite hobbies as any Khan Saab (arriving from northern mountains in Karachi) can get easy license to kill (driving license) & begin to roam the city.

While elaborating other minority’s religious understanding, Mohajirs are mostly belonged to Brailvee (Durood and Melaad lover) or Ahlul Hadeeth sect, they can also be Shiites, but in case of Shiites the priority will be given to religious identity.

In Karachi every religious sect, according to its own understanding & belief provide un-ending entertainment packed with miseries throughout the year to Karachites . For this, Barailvees (wearing green turbans or hari pagris) & Shiites are attention-grabbing examples. The religious bigots from Brailvee wear ‘green turban’ – also known as parrot of paradise are the disciple of Moulana Shah Ahmed Noorani / Saleem Qadri (Late) & majority are Kharadar living Memons or Urdu speaking, who actively conduct various Milaads, Jalsaa, Naat sessions. Faizan-e- Madina near old sabzi mandi is their sacred place where they frequently conduct ‘festival’ for earning thawab. Sweet confectioners & Mithai wala are also thankful to them, because in their every milaad & festival they distribute Mithai or Sharbat. Especially the occasion of 12th of Rabbial Awwal (Anniversary day of Holy Prophet Muhammad(swt) is worth to watch. Truck loaded processions from Numaish to Kharadar are conducted, during nights buildings are decorated with beautiful green & flashing lights. In Kharadar replica of Gunbat-e-Khizara (the green tomb) is displayed, which provide ‘live show’ for the people who cannot afford to go in Madina. While innocent folks also pay their Durood-o-salaam to the replica. Couple of years back a blast took place at Nashtar park, where hundreds of people were killed including top level Brailvee religious leaders . It was also rumored that MQM was behind that attack, the purpose was to eliminate the leadership of Brailvee.

Shiites are not lagging behind in this field but have an upper hand. Although Shiites are in minority but they enjoy much dominance & freedom in country as compared to any other sects in Pakistan. Their people always remain on the key posts, be it field of politics, economy, security, or showbiz etc. In the month of Moharram, (especially from 7th to 10th), mourning processions (Mathami Juloos) are organized, where the mourners (including women) participate in black dress, mock-up of Hazrat Imam Husain’s Horse (known as Duldul), his tombs models, water or sharbat sabeels are installed in the walkways of the city. During Juloos people beat them with both hands crying Ya Hussain! Ya Hussain! High caliber Shiites simply act with one hand, while the hired one beat them cruelly with both hands, even with knives, chains & swords, bleeding all-around. The ambulance also accompanied for providing emergency medical aid. The mourners begins from Soldier Bazaar and finish at Husania Iranian (Kharadar). There are also separate mourning arrangements for women & girls at Kharadar & various Imam Bargahas of city, where beautiful girls in black grieving dresses looks just fine.

On December 28, 2009 (i.e. 10th of Moharram), a usual Shiite Ashura procession was on his way, when it reaches at M.A. Jinnah Road, a suicide bomber blew himself, causing 50 die & 100 injured, including children. This painful event is further followed by torching of 3000 shops in entire Bolton Market, which left several Memon community’s shop keepers helpless.

Such emotional trends are quite ‘common’ among Karachites since 27-12-2007 (the day of the riots when Benazir was assassinated).

It could also be a preplanned technique from the part of MQM, i.e. why they are crying too much over the incident & claiming that the shopkeepers will be ‘compensated’. It is amazing that after the incident the M.A. Jinnah Road was totally forbidden for the local people. There were only Shiite Mourners, Police & Rangers, helpers of CDGK, or grieving shopkeepers, except them nobody was allowed to trespass the area. Finally in such a limited time, fire can only be spread through special chemicals, the similar chemicals that was used during Denso Hall blazing event when Lawyers office were burnt down by MQM folks.

Now since Memon Community have sympathy for Jamaat –Ahlul Sunnah, and it is the best time for MQM to grab their sympathy for helping them to claim their losses. M.A. Jinnah Road has further been closed for 2-days, so that all evidences can be ‘washed out’ easily. Such notions are quite common in Pakistan….

Amazingly, all ‘Islamic Scholars’ have mutually agreed that it was a ‘conspiracy’, & they are not willing to accept that the root cause was not the conspiracy but the procession itself i.e. in such situation when country is in war with terror, such processions could be postponed or simply diverting the route can save from huge damages. But again when it is the matter of religion, nobody will speak….

The Insurance companies are also giving news that majority of burned shops were not insured as 80% shop owners were not interested for Insurance, as they consider it as ‘un-Islamic’.

Finally after all this drama the burden will be on consumers in form of price hikes & shortage.

In Kharadar there is beautiful gothic styled Agha Khanis mosque where community’s man, women & children, gather during their sacred days or when Prince Kareem Agha Khan, arrives from France or England. It is strange that Prince Kareem has English wife besides his mother was also from European origin. Agha Khani girls are quite beautiful & liberal, but they only prefer relations with their own community. Among Agha Khan’s version of Islam, their sacred leaders perform weird rituals, as one can find in pictures where a ‘spiritual leader’ is kissing & hugging beautiful teen girls… it is also rumored that among Agha Khanis, during marriage, first night of brides are always with spiritual leaders, they open the cane like ancient kings of England…

There are also shrine worshippers of Sufi saints, i.e. Peer parast In Kachchi abadies or colonies. This religious gimmick is favorite among lower & middle class women which includes Balochs, Makranis, Sindhis & Memons too. Such visiting places are shrine of Baba Abdullah Shah Ghazi at Clifton. Couple of years back, it was customary among Baloch grooms to pay obligatory visit to the shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi to earn his ‘blessing’. Miran Peer at Lea Market, believed to be a holy shrine of a virgin pious lady, (a strict visiting place for ladies only where even pregnant women also avoid to enter because of a ‘possibility’ of miscarriage in case a boy baby in her womb!.. During my deep research, it was also found that Halala service is also offered in Meera Peer, where Faqeers are available. Manghopir is also a wondrous place for the presence of crocodile and three days annual festival where Shedi disciples offer dhamal dance which is fun to watch. Actually Karachi is full of shrines, at every nook & corner, a Sufi saint is lying….

 Like in Manora, Kharadar, Garden, Mewa Shah Graveyards, Kalapul, Shershah, Maripur where majority of ladies frequently visit. Almost all attendants of sacred shrines (known as Mujawar) are drug addicts besides prostitute also roam in such shrines. In such Mazar, for creating mystic environment, scented wood (agar batti) are flamed, which gives out perfumed smoke & audio tapes of Sindhi folk singers like Abida Parveen, Allan Faquir are also played-back. Although it is out of topic but worth to mention that during the Anniversary or Urs of Sehwan Shareef (Lal Shahbaz Qalandar); the devout disciples (all over country) pay obligatory visits & put their Mannats (spiritual offers) in form of Chaadars, Degs, Gold & currency. Dozens of daigs are cooked for free distribution to shrine visitors & custodian. The Anniversary also attracts a large no. of Khusras (eunuchs), prostitutes & gays across the country & under cover of festival; sexual services are provided in different local hotels, restaurants & huts..There is also a Hindu temple, near KPT & Naiti Jeti Bridge, a beautiful place near PNSC building. Naiti Jaiti bridge is also famous where people (whatever riches or poor often throw dough made stuff & food junks for fishes so that their obligations (mannat) can be fulfilled. This may be equally spreading pollution but when it comes to matter of ‘belief’ everything is OK. The bridge is also notorious place for suicides and until now hundreds of people threw themselves from the bridge. The view from Naiti Jaiti bridge is superb, depicting a mangrove forest, beautiful PNSC building (which caught fire twice), while a remote view of tallest fountain near Manora is worthwhile to watch.

LAND OF WONDER:

Karachi is also a city of predators, dacoits, thieves, pedophiles, hookers, kidnappers & fraud makers. In Karachi, there are clever elements, championed to extract money from poor folks. Like providing you on the spot lottery schemes, fraudulent crockery exchange schemes, door to door bogus supply of medicines/herbs make-up stuff, above all there are real estate representatives who come to your home & give you good news that you won a plot via some lucky draws! They will ask you to deposit some amount, they’ll also give you brochures & receipt. Many stupid people lost their money for the plot which does not exist at all. There are people on roads who would avail car lift & deprive you from all your belongings. Services of oil massagers’ (Malishiay) are offered on footpaths of Karachi Cantt Station, Saddar, Clifton where male individuals can avail this service, while some massagers also do ‘other jobs’ for desirous persons (no need to clarify) . In order to avail lady massaging facility (most of them are of Chinese origin) there are ‘secret oil massagers’ in stylish beauty parlors at posh area of Tariq Road, Clifton, Zamzama on handsome amount. Now it is time to mention ‘beauty’ of Karachi i.e. hookers or prostitutes. Majority of them are Punjabi & Bengali. New additions are Afghans, Sindhis & Urdu speaking brands. Their rates are linked with the areas, i.e. more posh areas grab more rates. These hookers mostly run & supervised by Auntie type women from Rs.3 to 5000/= (per night), depending on her beauty & age. Teens have more value then aged ones. Bengalis are much cheaper. Any resemblance to Bollywood /Lollywood actresses is like a lottery, where qadardaan love to spend money. Some model typed showbiz hookers run independently & charge more, but their customers are from higher class & notables. Mobile technology has also eased everything. Every park & leisure places are seen with love birds in romantic style, especially the Mazar-e-Quaid (tomb of founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah) has become a famous dating place.

Their do exist dance party clubs in Karachi but only higher level riches can access these places. During the time of Bhutto, when peace prevailed in the area, foreigners also loved to visit Karachi city, it was also the visiting place for Central Asian hookers during Nawaz Sharif’s time, BUT now after serious security issues in the region, foreign visitors are quite rare. Jahangir Park (Saddar), Empress Market & some places at Sharea Faisal are famous places for gays, pedophiles, homosexuals & eunuchs where Pakhtoons are seen roaming around. Specially eunuchs are picked up in Pajeero Jeeps at Sharea Faisal. Every other flat in Gulistan-e-Jauhar is a place of hookers & ‘suppliers’ where room services for daters are available. For poor & middle class daters, net cafes at Cantt station & else charges less for providing accommodation.Karachi is also a land of witchdoctors, Palmists, Hakeems, Sanyasi babas & peers (spiritual healers) and in most cases having 70 years of age is a must condition for them), besides Specialists doctors / surgeons, who extract a huge amount of fees for a one minute visit. Lower & middle class always look for the cheapest & the footpath magicians (jadoogar) are always their for help. Empress Market, M.A. Jinnah Road, Saddar, Khori Garden, Jodia Bazar, Lea Market & Lyari are the places where various magicians, professors & herb sellers of footpaths, demonstrate their ‘knowledge’ & ‘soghaat’. These magicians now own various shops, with stuffs like mummified lions, bears, cubs, snakes & scorpions and their ‘extracted oils’ , they are generous to provide you some drops of oil for ‘falsification test’. M.A. Jinnah Road is famous for selling Sanday ka tail i.e. oil of lizard like animal for improving sexual power (Shakti). The scene is really gruesome when lizard is slaughtered & cooked in the boiling oil… The oil after filtered and sold to the willing person.

AREA = STANDARD OF LIVING:

Here different areas have their own dress code & style, according to standard. So if you see a boy wearing shorts / shirt with latest jell hairstyle or probably with a ponytail (which is still a hallmark of modernization), with a blue tooth device fixed in ear, then you are in a posh area of Karachi like Zamzama, DHA or Muhammad Ali Housing Society, PECHS or Hyderi, but know-a-days areas of Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal and some extent to North Nazimabad are also becoming posh, where girls are seen with skin fitted jeans and belly showing shirts. On diversity, a Kharadar living boy can be identified with his brownish & paan tainted teeth, wearing Shalwar Qameez & girls are in full hijaab. The burqa, which is used by traditional Madarassas going girls are designed so tactfully that it is almost impossible to view any part of the body. Black hand gloves, black socks, especially designed sleeves that carries wearable thread ring so that in case of rising hand, sleeves couldn’t slip down…

With the passage of time different things have become the status of symbols in Karachi. Earlier it was bulky sized mobiles (people carried in their hands), later the mineral water bottle, stylish paper bags with some famous brand logo. Now it is wearable blue tooth devices & wearing organization’s machine readable cards are also becoming fashion. If an individual carries a black leather bag, with tie & jelled hair (as if he is an MBA student) are ideal ways to impress someone. In Karachi riches are further classified in two further categories. One is from ‘Landlord Class’ (whose forefathers were from urban areas, mostly engaged in ‘Cock fighting, or probably illiterate politicians) & the other class is ‘Industrialists Class’ (whose forefathers were literate, even graduated from oxford or Harvard). The landlord class still love to use old ‘Pajero’ or Toyota 4 x 4 as their ideal vehicle and they use traditional type of clothing, they are technology retard , they use simple mobile phones just to scroll up & down phonebook, lover of traditional foods like Chicken Tikka, Nihaari, Biryaani, Paey etc. Their ladies are confined in their gothic styled bungalow & use less fashion, but their newer generation are rebellious. For entertainment they mostly rely on simple cable-TV & Satellite, as compared to Industrialist class which uses hi-tech Blue Ray home theatre System with larger HD displays, for communication they rely on Blackberry, equipped with GPRS & e-mail system. For vehicles they use BMW Land cruisers or cars, Audi & Opel are also there, only the fortunate one must have a Ferrari with James bond style suiting & a lot of club memberships and don’t talk about Industrialist’s class girls, mostly opt for latest designed fashion apparels. But religious extremism is also emerging from these two upper class & it is not wondering to witness a sacred dressed family in a precious 4 wheelers.

Zamzama (Boulevard) is the most expensive area of Karachi, where haircutting saloons often charge a huge amount for services, while the Clifton Shopping Mall, Glass Tower or Agha’s Super Market are the ideal place for riches to shop. Whilst, speaking about diversity, in the same city Jamma Cloth, Saddar, Ranchor Lane, Laloo Kaith are the bazaars for lower or medium class, where prices of same goods are half in comparison to posh area market.Light House or Lunda bazaar, where used imported fabrics or goods including shoes, bags & stuff are sold by Pakhtoon or Afghans was once an ideal place for poor but is no more attractive as riches also buy from here. Due to frequent visit of riches Pathans have become smart money makers. In Lunda Bazaar one can find anything like from a nighty, underwear to Jeans, Jackets, three piece suits, recycled toys, sport wear, carpets, curtains to shorts & skirts which are used by Christian dwellers of Saddar / Empress Market. Jodia Bazaar is also one of the oldest Karyana Bazaar of the city where Memon shopkeepers dominates by selling foodstuffs & spices on whole sale or retail basis. During the month of Ramadan these dealers extracts huge amounts from people by creating artificial shortage.

Living standards in Karachi varies from place to place. For example, alongwith the wide crescent shore, riches live in Gothic or Californian-style mansions, or one floored super luxury apartments in which the size of their bathroom are much larger than Bengali’s whole house who are living in Machar Colony. The latest craze among the very wealthy is to have a Lion cub, German Sheppard dog, or having a Filipina maids in a country where more than a third of the population lives below the poverty line, & people have been forced to queue for buying subsidized flour or sugar. The spoiled kids wearing branded goods & vehicles roam with their armed bodyguards. While their mothers wear silk made Shalwar Kameez or Sarees designed by some famous fashion designer with Diamanté Chanel sunglasses & Gucci purse. In contrast are barefooted kids, working as an assistant (chotay) or running after cars for the mechanic jobs at Tibet Centre / Plaza, while their mothers search fabric cut pieces at Ranchor Lane to stitch clothes for earnings.

TRAFFIC, CIVIC & OTHER SENSES:

Almost all Karachites (be them from any creed or race) have zero level traffic sense. The reason is obvious that they are not learned anything about civic or traffic sense. Be it from media or school syllabus, one can hardly find any topic on it. Not only illiterate but educated people too are of reluctant to the matter. Here people blindly walk on main roads, even though a footpath is there. Being indifferent to hear vehicle’s horn is yet another quality of Karachites & in case of any mishap only drivers are taken into account. Obeying traffic signals is against the dignity of people, as an outcome daily accidents are common. Corrupt system of availing driving license, damaged roads, & corrupt traffic constables are yet other reasons. Here traffic wardens warn or catch people just for the sake of money & not for violations. Transport mafia is mostly consisted of Pakhtoons & the majority of public transport is based upon rusted & outfitted mini buses & coaches. Yet city government is trying to improve the situation by importing more CNG buses for the citizens. In Karachi, it is customary that if any driver makes a mistake other will curse him through abusive language or showing curse sign (lanat). Sometimes, verbal abuse between passengers & driver / conductor grows to physical abuse, i.e. why Pathan drivers always keep an iron rod with them…

While talking of Traffic & roads, beggars are yet other distractions for city dwellers. Every busy street, food places & markets are full of professional beggars, which are run by mafia. Whenever a vehicle stops at signal, beggars with tactful words & mostly with their monkeys arrived to make fool people. New additions are smart girl beggars who can compile anyone to put a five rupee coin in her hand. In the posh area of DHA Clifton, Tariq Road, beautiful Afghan girls (in guise of beggar) can ‘empty’ your pocket in no time. Bus Stands are occupied by wonderful magicians, palmists, professors, where you can find about your past, future & present. Traveling in public transport is a fun & wonderful adventure in Karachi. Many public vehicles including buses & mini buses belong to 60-70s. There are new arrivals of CNG buses but their numbers are very low. Transporters usually illustrate their buses with traditional designs, poetry, calligraphy etc. from inside out; and they always paint it with current model year like 2009, 2008 etc. W-11 is an internationally popular mini bus rout in Karachi which is famous for its typical decoration. In America or some western country a public tram is being run which has been redesigned like W-11. Sometimes bus drivers shift all passengers to other buses, before reaching their destination and passengers don’t have any choice but to obey. Unlike India, in public transport, females are separated behind iron walls, where hardly anyone can see ‘anything, but some Karachi adventurers are smart to make or find an ‘appropriate hole’ for ‘some experiments’, which sometimes turn into tragedy and in case the individual is caught, all sympathy will go for ‘hers, it can also lead to torture of accused & expulsion from bus. Traveling salesmen or mobile hawkers are also found in local transport, selling everything from Chinese ballpoints, balloons, surmas which help to leave spectacles, eateries to medicines & kushtas, with challenging words like “Agar Pasand na Aye to Bus say bahar phaink den” meaning, “In case of dissatisfaction, throw this out & you’ll get the refund! Some wicked fellows (often from urban areas) get up in local transports and make passengers fool saying like: “I came from Sialkot and somebody has picked my pocket, please help me”, or there are minor children or girls, who distribute brochure or cards for help . The most horrible ones are those carrying vomit sighting skin diseases or with decapitated limbs, showing off passengers for collecting donations.

Might is right principle is there in Karachi, there is no concept of ‘first come first serve’ or queues & only strong, influential or those with an oily tongue (no matter in religious costume) will win the race. Be it collection of utility bills, dealing with offices, shops etc. Reluctance behavior is also reflected from ordinary Karachites behavior. In case of accident, people just watch & move away, because they know the other part of the story, i.e. useless procedures of police & hospital, queries etc. Non-awareness to the first aid education is also the prime cause of many deaths in Karachi, as the Karachites rarely know the meaning of first aid which becomes crucial when it comes to saving lives.95% Karachites are Muslims, yet the teachings of Islam are not reflected in their lives. Relegion looks traditional & mere a source of thawab earning. The Maulvees job is only limited to mosques, conducting jalsa Juloos & criticizing Jews, American or western civilization.During any VVIP movement, certain roads & link roads are totally sealed, resulting in total collapse & traffic jams, which is another major problem for Karachites. No department is saved from the octopus of corruption, be it educational institutions, government hospitals, law & order agencies, water & sanitation, building / land authority, utility service provider, judiciary, employment, taxation etc. But in all these darkness there are ray of hopes for ordinary people like Abdul Sattar Edhi (an international famed social worker humanist), Ansar Burney, Cheepa, Saylani welfare trust & other social workers & NGOs, who are serving Karachites.

PEOPLE, LEISURE &VISITING PLACES:

The development and the expansion of city also changed the life style of its inhabitants & now the Karachites have adopted the modern way of life and a sweeper can also be seen with a mobile phone while sweeping streets.Whenever Karachites feels like celebrating or simply going out for recreation, they head towards the beaches which is the most exciting and Clifton beach (now converted to Bagh Ibni Qasim) is the most famous one. But high cost of living, worst inflation & above all law & order issues has blurred everything.. Before renovation to Bagh Ibni Qasim the old Clifton was quite attractive, where roller coaster & play land was stretching all over the area, but now play land has much shorter space as compared to larger green area which only provide dating heaven for the couples. Beside Clifton, Boat Basin is a famous place for late night diners where every type of local & western foods like Katakat, Chikan Tikka, Biryani, Quorma, Karaee, fish fry etc. The Shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi is a famous place, where people, mostly women offer their obligations. During the annual festival i.e. Urs, special Qawalis & daigs are offered to the visitors.

Now downside Neti Jeti Bridge, a VIP food street has been ‘installed’ for city elites followed by high rise metal shields has been placed both side of the bridge grills to ward off  poor folks from the location, who had been regularly throwing  meals for fishes for sacred obligations.  The government says the reason is ‘people (means poor) commit suicide from this place”, Such placement of shields are sheer negation of human rights from city government Karachi.  This was surely the end of century old tradition. Now only elites who can afford entry tickets & expensive meals can enjoy beautiful view of Neti Jeti.

Next to Clifton, Keamari, Manora Island & Korangi Creek are another breathtaking place for picnic. Local or special boats are available to swim around. Like Clifton, Manora Island also has a shrine and some hundred years old Hindu temple. Pakistani government is also planning for building some mega cities in the island of Manora, Baba Bit island & else.Out skirt of Karachi city, apart from Clifton, the city dwellers also visit other beaches like Hawks bay, Paradise Point, Sandpit, Gaddani, Sonehri & French Beaches (which is exclusive for Foreigners & elites) and other fascinating beaches stretched over hundreds of miles coastline uttered with rocks, cliffs & pebbles. In these beaches huts on rent are also available for visitors. During the weekend, these places are crowded with picnickers. Camel and horse riding are favorite fun in all beaches of Karachi. The Paradise Point, once known for its ‘natural hole in a rock’ is the most exciting beach. Now owing to government’s negligence the natural hole has turned out as ‘U’ as the upper part of rock fell down). Besides Neelum point is known for its series of cliffs while Gaddani’s spears like cliffs are the deadly one. Due to non availability of security & unawareness, dozens of people die because of drowning. Be it in Karachi, Balochistan, almost all army installations are near the beaches & because of the facts many areas are forbidden for local people & only army personnel s with their families enjoy their lives. Like installation of atomic reactor near Hawks bay, Manora, Keamari, where even photography is forbidden…

For eateries there are various places for every class, but again mind blowing dearness & global financial crunch are the biggest obstacles in everything. Many middle class have already come under the poverty line, while many riches are being converted to middleclass. Burns road is an old gold place for middle class, where everything is available in affordable price, like Chicken Tikkas, Haleem, Nehari, Biryani, Zarda, Paya, Dal Chawal, Sajji, Roast, Naan, Ice Cream, Faluda, Qulfa, Dahi Baray, including deserts like Kheer, Rabbari etc. Buffet at Lal Qila, Sea Breeze, McDonald, KFC & many Italian or Chinese food or Boating Basin are for higher middle & riches where local & western food are available.

Gardens and Parks located in different areas of Karachi, namely: old Zoological Garden, Burns Garden, Hill Park, Safari Park, Askari Park, Aladdin Park & Kuzi Park near Sohrab Gote (known for their fresh water sports), Bagh-e-Quaid-e-Azam, Polo Ground, PIA Planetarium, PAF / Naval Museum Parks (where poor folks can also have Aero plane experience), & what not riding over Victoria styled horse carriages from Polo ground to Clifton. Historical museum at Pakistan Chowki, Memon Masjid, Masjid-e-Tuba (having the largest Dome of the world without the support of central pillars) are some of the mesmerizing places of Karachi to be visited.

Due to collapse of Pakistani film industry, the Karachi cinemas had been turning into shopping centres but since the Indian movies have been allowed by Pakistani government , the cinemas are somehow back in the home. But situation is not the same like old days, the reason people have more options of fun & entertainment like cable, satellite & home theatres. The remaining cinemas of city are Nishat, Prince, Capri, while the Regal, Bambino, Naz, Plaza etc. have already been converted into shopping Malls or Auditorium. Comedy stage dramas in theatres like Karachi Arts Council & in other areas are also providing laugh packed leisure time for city dwellers where famous comedians like Omer Shareef, Saleem Afridi, Shakeel Siddiqui etc. performs.

Expo Centre Karachi, which is situated near Civic Centre (Gulshan), is also becoming the hallmark in Asia, where each year, international expos are organized for the investors & common people.

Thanks to the latest media breakthrough & various fashion magazines & channels like She, MAG, Visage & Akbar-e-Jihaan, the modeling is also becoming a hot field in Karachi where good looking males / females take active participation in bold / latest western style clothing displays, through catwalks, dulhan shows.

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