Category Archives: Karachi History

Karachi’s first liquor tavern MOKHI AND MATARA – A folk tale By Dr. Sohail Ansari The story of a tavern in Karachi dates back to around 400 years. Perhaps this is the oldest recorded tavern of the city. Natar, a … Continue reading →

By Dr. Sohail Ansari Ismaili merchants made mercantile trips to Karachi in 16th and 17th centuries coming from Kutchh, Kathiawar, Muscat and Gwadar. Whereas they resided in the city, their families were still in their base towns and the community … Continue reading →

By Dr. Sohail Ansari We had telegraphy posted recently, and now comes telephone. The first patent of which went to Graham Bell in March 1876. Some may recall the Karachi days of three, four and later five digit phone numbers, … Continue reading →

By Dr. Sohail Ansari Lost Glory A news from 2 February 1950: KARACHI AIRPORT: The Civil and Military Gazette of Lahore writes that modifications to Karachi Airport to enable it to handle the world’s first jet-liner, the De-Havilland Comet, are … Continue reading →

1932: Inauguration of Sukkur Barrage is celebrated at Karachi Gymkhana. Photo and caption courtesy of Dr. Ghulam Nabi Kazi.

ANNEXATION OF KARACHI AND BATTLE OF HYDERABAD—- A CATALYST OR A GAME CHANGER By Dr. Adnan Zuberi   Corruption of East India CompanyB: Politics between British Establishment and East India CompanyC: Role of Major James Outram and Charles Napier It was … Continue reading →

By Dr. Sohail Ansari. It was in 1864 that the first telegraphic message was sent from India (Karachi) to England (London) when a telegraph connection was laid. The Telegraph and Post Office of the city designed by Captain P. Phelps … Continue reading →

By Dr. Adnan Zuberi FROM  LONGITUDE  00’00.00 / Meridian Line— HISTORY of KARACHI   My last visit to this line , Longitude 00’00.00, Greenwich Observatory and National Maritime Museum was in 2015. Here I found a history of Karachi.The watercolour … Continue reading →

By Dr. Sohail Ansari  After his exile from Junagadh, Muhammad Mahabat Khan III and his family settled in Karachi, where he died of rabies at the age of 59 years. He was fond of dogs and is believed to have … Continue reading →

By Dr. Sohail Ansari  Karachi long had trading links with Afghans. Before the British conquest, they had established ‘Karavan Serai’ for Afghan traders, outside the confines of the city, where Sindh Madressah stands today. The complex had central grounds and … Continue reading →