Clifton (Urdu: ???????, Sindhi: ???????) is an affluent seaside municipality in Karachi, Pakistan. Clifton remains one of the most affluent parts of the city, with some of Karachi's most expensive real estate. Clifton is home to several foreign consulates, while its commercial centres are amongst the most high-end in Pakistan, with a strong presence of international brands.
Video Clifton, Karachi
History
The area around Clifton was a largely barren seashore until British rule, and was previously known to locals as "Hawa Bandar," or "Wind Port." Prior to the establishment of the area as a suburb of Karachi, Clifton's shoreline had been home to a shrine of 8th century Abdullah Shah Ghazi - widely regarded as the city's patron saint. The shrine is immediately adjacent to the 150 year old Sri Ratneswar Mahadev Hindu Temple.
Clifton was initially developed in the late 19th century under British colonial rule, and initially served as the location for homes belonging to the city's British elite as an escape from the city. In the early 20th century, Parsis began moving to the area, and were soon followed by Muslims and Hindus. The Jehangir Kothari Parade, bestowed to the city by Parsi businessman Seth Jehangir Hormusji Kothari, was built in Clifton in 1919-20. The Mohatta Palace was built in Clifton in 1927 by a wealthy Hindu businessman, and now serves as a museum.
Clifton Bridge was built in the 1930s to connect the suburb to central Karachi. By the 1950s, camel owners began offering rides to local tourists on the beach. The area remained a residential area characterized by bungalows until the 1970s, when the area began to develop as one of Karachi's prime commercial and retail centres. In 1973, Clifton's famous Three Sword and Two Sword monuments were erected as part of a beautification programme launched by Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, and was built in the shape of his political parties election symbol at the time. Despite a breakdown of law and order in Karachi in the 1980s and 1990s, Clifton was one of the localities in Karachi where real estate activity remained strong.
Maps Clifton, Karachi
Economy
Clifton is emerging as another Central Business District of Karachi along with Saddar Town the main Central Business District of Karachi. Today it headquarters the corporate office of Pakistan's largest energy company, Pakistan State Oil (PSO) as well several other large local and foreign companies such as Nestle Pakistan Limited, Dolmen Group and Muller and Philips among other corporate and regional offices.
Increased business activity and real estate construction boom has resulted in Clifton altering the city skyline with the two tallest buildings in Pakistan namely The Bahria Icon Tower and the Ocean Towers now located here. It also houses the headquarters of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan
Foreign missions
There are also several international consulates and high commission offices based in Clifton such as British Deputy High Commission, The Chinese consulate, The Italian Consulate, The Russian Consulate The Iranian Consulate, Consulate General of Switzerland as well as the Kuwaiti consulate among others.
Educational institutions
- Karachi Grammar School
- Convent of Jesus and Mary, Karachi
- Karachi Grammar School maintains its Kindergarten, Junior and College sections in Clifton.
- Pimley School, a primary and secondary school, is located in Block II, Clifton.
- SZABIST is located in Clifton.
- Head Start School System also operates its biggest branch Clifton Campus in Clifton area.
Visitor attractions
- Clifton beach
- World's second highest water jet fountain lies in the Arabian Sea near the Clifton Coastline
- Bahria Icon Tower, Pakistan's tallest building is situation in Clifton
- Dolmen Mall Clifton
- Shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi
- Jehangir Kothari Parade (1922), along with the Katrak Bandstand and Lady Lloyd Pier. The Pier enabled people to walk towards the sea, but over the years the sea has retreated.
- Bagh-e-Ibne Qasim
- Mohatta Palace was the last residence of sisters Fatima Jinnah and Shireen Jinnah. It has now been converted into a museum.
- Boat Basin Park
Chinatown
Clifton has many Chinese restaurants and small businesses owned by the Chinese community in Pakistan. Many Pakistani Chinese families used to live in the PECHS and Tariq Road area but have since moved to the higher end Clifton and Defense areas. Many Chinese restaurants can be found in these areas.
See also
- 70 Clifton
- Clifton Beach, Karachi
- Seaview
- Clifton Cantonment
- Shah Rasool Colony
- Chinese community in Pakistan
- Sindh Baloch Cooperative Housing Society
References
External links
- Karachi Website
- Hospitals in Clifton
- Pictures of Digging in Clifton
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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