The Historical Quarters of Karachi

This book addresses a much neglected area of study: the protection and conservation of the historic architecture and architectural monuments in Karachi. l
Karachi's old historic fort still exists in the form of streets and mohallas embellished with a number of dharamshalas, temples, mosques, shrines, as well as its traditional bazaars. The older suburbs of Karachi survive; some even retain their winding streets and open squares. The nineteenth and twentieth century British Quarters which flourished with commercial and port activities are largely intact. These boulevards, streets, quarters and richly embellished stone buildings from that period are comparable to the nineteenth century historic areas of other major cities around the world, such as Cairo, Istanbul, Delhi, etc.

Since Independence, the historical core of Karachi has been subjected to functional pressures which it is inherently incapable of confronting. This area is in acute danger, and if the present policies and practices of safeguarding only its monuments persist, only a fraction of old Karachi will remain as a measure of its cultural heritage.

The book presents a meticulously developed research methodology and has a valuable resource of original information. This includes photographic documentation, area maps, sketches and corresponding activity profiles. It is a significant contribution to the field of urban area conservation with particular reference to Karachi. It is intended for students of conservation and to initiate a process for the preservation of Karachi city's historic tangible and intangible cultural assets, by revalorization, and revitalizing its physical and socio-cultural characteristics as a distinct urban district of national cultural significance.