Full History Of Karachi In Timeline From 1901

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Following reported missile strikes, Pakistan vowed to respond, leading to heightened India-Pakistan tensions. Airlines were instructed to implement Secondary Ladder Point Checks, and passengers were advised to arrive three hours early for flights due to increased security affecting Karachi area.

1901: Karachi's Population

In 1901, Karachi's population was 117,000, with an additional 109,000 in the Municipal area.

1911: Mayor Seth Harchandrai Vishandas

In 1911, mayor Seth Harchandrai Vishandas, known as the Father of Modern Karachi, led the municipal government to improve sanitary conditions and infrastructure.

1914: Largest Wheat-Exporting Port

By 1914, Karachi had become the largest wheat-exporting port of the entire British Empire, following irrigation projects in Sindh.

1921: Half the city was born outside of Karachi

By 1921, half the city was born outside of Karachi.

1921: Nadirshaw Edulji Dinshaw University of Engineering and Technology Founded

In 1921, the Nadirshaw Edulji Dinshaw University of Engineering and Technology (NED) was founded. It is Pakistan's oldest institution of higher learning.

1924: Drigh Road Aerodrome Established

In 1924, the Drigh Road Aerodrome, now Faisal Air Force Base, was established in Karachi.

1925: Construction of Hindu Gymkhana

The Hindu Gymkhana was built in 1925, showcasing Mughal revival architecture.

1933: Karachi Municipal Corporation Established

In 1933, the City of Karachi Municipal Act transformed the city administration into the Karachi Municipal Corporation, featuring a mayor, a deputy mayor, and 57 councillors.

January 1934: Lowest Recorded Temperature

On January 21, 1934, Karachi's lowest recorded temperature of 0 °C (32 °F) was recorded.

November 1935: First International Cricket Match in Karachi

On November 22, 1935, the first international cricket match in Karachi was held between Sindh and Australian cricket teams.

April 1936: Sindh Established as a Separate Province

On April 1, 1936, Sindh was established as a province separate from the Bombay Presidency, and Karachi was once again made capital of Sindh.

1941: Karachi's Population

By 1941, Karachi's population was a fraction of what it became in later years.

1941: Population growth between 1941 and 1951

The city of Karachi grew 150% during the ten year period between 1941 and 1951.

1945: Dow University of Health Sciences Established

In 1945, the Dow University of Health Sciences was established and became one of Pakistan's top medical research institutions.

1946: Arrival of the first Muhajirs of Karachi

The first Muhajirs of Karachi arrived in 1946 in the aftermath of the Direct Action Day and subsequent 1946 Bihar riots.

August 1947: Capital Shift

In August 1947, after the Pakistan Movement in 1947, Sindh's capital shifted from Karachi to Hyderabad, and Karachi became the national capital of Pakistan.

1947: Pakistan's independence in 1947

By the dawn of Pakistan's independence in 1947, Karachi had an estimated population of 400,000. The city's population grew dramatically with the arrival of hundreds of thousands of Muslim refugees from the newly independent Republic of India.

1947: Cricket History in Pakistan

Cricket's history in Pakistan predates the creation of the country in 1947.

1947: Religious demographics before 1947

Prior to Pakistan's independence in 1947, the religious demographics of Karachi was estimated to be 51.1% Hindu, 42.3% Muslim, with the remaining 7% primarily Christians (both British and native), Sikhs, Jains, with a small number of Jews.

January 1948: Riots in Karachi

In January 1948, riots erupted in Karachi, leading to a mass exodus of Sindh's Hindu population to India with the assistance of the Indian government.

May 1948: Refugee Resettlement

By May 1948, Karachi became the focus for the resettlement of middle-class Muslim Muhajir refugees who fled India, with 470,000 refugees in Karachi, leading to a drastic alteration of the city's demography.

1948: Federal District

In 1948, Karachi was selected as the first capital of Pakistan and was administered as a federal district separate from Sindh.

1948: Creation of Federal Capital Territory of Pakistan

In 1948, the Federal Capital Territory of Pakistan was created, comprising approximately 2,103 km² of Karachi and surrounding areas.

1951: Karachi's Demographics Change

By 1951, Muslims made up 96% of Karachi's population. In 1951, Urdu replaced Sindhi as Karachi's most widely spoken language.

1951: New arrivals from India in 1951

In 1951, new arrivals from India made up 57% of Karachi's population.

1951: University of Karachi Founded

In 1951, the University of Karachi, Pakistan's largest university, was founded with a student population of 24,000.

1951: Year 1951

This entry simply contains the year 1951

1952: Muhajir Arrival

Until 1952, 100,000 Muhajir refugees arrived annually in Karachi.

August 1953: Highest Rainfall in 24 Hours

On August 7, 1953, Karachi experienced its highest rainfall in 24 hours, with approximately 278.1 millimeters (10.95 inches) of rain, leading to major flooding.

February 1955: Inaugural First-Class Match at National Stadium

On February 26, 1955, the inaugural first-class match at the National Stadium was played between Pakistan and India.

1955: Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Founded

In 1955, the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), the oldest business school outside of North America and Europe, was founded with technical support from the Wharton School and the University of Southern California.

1957: Establishment of Karachi Development Authority

In 1957, the Karachi Development Authority (KDA) was established to manage land around Karachi.

1958: Capital Shift to Rawalpindi

In 1958, the national capital was shifted to Rawalpindi.

1959: Merger into West Pakistan

In 1959, the Federal Capital Territory of Pakistan was merged into the province of West Pakistan.

1960: Merger of Karachi and Lasbela District

In 1960, Karachi and Lasbela District merged to create Karachi-Bela Division.

1961: Population Growth

By 1961, Karachi's population had grown 369% compared to 1941.

1961: Year 1961

This entry simply contains the year 1961

1962: Dawood University of Engineering and Technology Opened

In 1962, the Dawood University of Engineering and Technology opened, offering degree programs in petroleum, gas, chemical, and industrial engineering.

1963: Habib Bank Plaza was Pakistan's tallest building

In 1963, the Habib Bank Plaza became Pakistan's tallest building. It remained the tallest building in Pakistan until the early 2000s. The building is located on I. I. Chundrigar Road.

July 1967: Highest Monthly Rainfall

In July 1967, Karachi experienced its highest monthly rainfall, with 19 inches (480 mm) recorded.

1969: Karachi Circular Railway Fully Operational

In 1969, the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) became fully operational.

1970: Development after 1970

After 1970, Gulistan-e-Johar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Federal B. Area, Malir, Landhi and Korangi areas of Karachi were developed.

1970: One Unit Programme

Between 1958 and 1970, Karachi's role as capital of Sindh ceased due to the One Unit programme enacted by President Iskander Mirza.

1970: Labour Unrest

The year 1970 saw labour unrest in Karachi's industrial estates.

1971: Arrival of Urdu-speaking Biharis

Following the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and independence of Bangladesh, thousands of Urdu-speaking Biharis arrived in Karachi.

1971: Influx of Bihari Immigrants

In 1971, this decade also saw an influx of more than one million Bihari immigrants into Karachi from Bangladesh which separated from Pakistan.

1972: Repression of Labour Unrest

From 1972 onwards, the labour unrest in Karachi's industrial estates was violently repressed by the government of President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

1972: Division of Karachi Metropolitan Area

In 1972, Lasbela District transferred to Kalat division and the Karachi metropolitan area was divided into three districts: East, West, and South.

1972: Karachi District Division

In 1972, the Karachi district was divided into three districts: East, West, and South.

1972: Year 1972

This entry simply contains the year 1972

1975: Closure of Karachi Tramway Service

In 1975, the tramway service in Karachi, which had started in 1884, was closed.

1976: Karachi Metropolitan Corporation Formed

In 1976, the Karachi Municipal Corporation became the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation.

November 1980: First One Day International at National Stadium

On November 21, 1980, the first One Day International at the National Stadium was against the West Indies, with the match going to the last ball.

1980: Orangi Pilot Project Founded

In 1980, the Orangi Pilot Project, a community service organization, was founded to help households in Orangi self-organize and set up their own sewerage system.

1981: Karachi census growth rate

Karachi's population had grown at a rate of 3.49% between the 1981 and 1998 census.

1981: Year 1981

This entry simply contains the year 1981

1983: Aga Khan University Founded

In 1983, the Aga Khan University, Karachi's oldest private educational institution and one of Pakistan's most prestigious medical schools, was founded.

1989: Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture Founded

In 1989, the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture was founded, offering degree programs in arts and architectural fields.

1992: Operation Clean-up

In 1992, Pakistani security forces targeted the MQM party and its supporters as part of the controversial Operation Clean-up to restore peace in the city.

1992: Operation Clean-up and Anti-Hindu Riots

In 1992, the Operation Clean-up, an effort to restore peace in the city, began with Pakistani security forces targeting the MQM party and its supporters. In 1992, anti-Hindu riots broke out in Karachi in retaliation for the demolition of the Babri Mosque in India.

1992: Construction of Current Terminal at Jinnah International Airport

In 1992, the current terminal structure at Karachi's Jinnah International Airport was built, divided into international and domestic sections.

1993: Formation of Lyari Development Authority

In 1993, the Lyari Development Authority (LDA) was formed.

1994: Formation of Malir Development Authority

In 1994, the Malir Development Authority (MDA) was formed.

1994: End of Operation Clean-up

In 1994, the Operation Clean-up, an effort to restore peace in Karachi, ended.

1994: Operation Clean-up Continued

The effort to restore peace in Karachi via Operation Clean-up that started in 1992 lasted until 1994.

1995: Recorded Killings in Karachi

In 1995, 1,742 killings were recorded in Karachi, with a maximum of 15 killings in a single day.

1995: Pakistan's First Bone Marrow Transplant at Ziauddin Hospital

In 1995, Ziauddin Hospital was the site of Pakistan's first bone marrow transplant.

1995: Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST) Founded

In 1995, the Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST) was founded by former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, operating a campus in Karachi.

1996: Division of Karachi Metropolitan Area into Five Districts

In 1996, the Karachi metropolitan area was divided into five districts Central and Malir, each with its own municipal corporation.

1996: National Stadium Hosted Group Matches

In 1996, the National Stadium hosted two group matches (Pakistan v. South Africa on 29 February and Pakistan v. England on 3 March), and a quarter-final match (South Africa v. West Indies on 11 March) during the 1996 Cricket World Cup.

1996: Creation of New Districts

In 1996, two more districts were created in the Karachi division: Central and Malir districts.

1998: Karachi's census in 1998

Karachi's population grew by 59.8% since the 1998 census to 14.9 million, while Lahore city grew 75.3%.

1998: Year 1998

This entry simply contains the year 1998

1999: Karachi Circular Railway Ceases Operations

In 1999, the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) ceased full operations.

2000: Bahria University (BU) Founded

In 2000, Bahria University (BU) was founded as one of the major general institutions of Pakistan, offering degree programs in Management Sciences, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Psychology.

2000: Muhajir Arrival

Until 2000, Muhajirs kept arriving from different parts of India.

2001: Formation of City District Karachi

In 2001, during General Pervez Musharraf's rule, five districts of Karachi were merged to form the city district of Karachi, with a three-tier structure.

2001: Restoration of Karachi Circular Railway

In 2001, efforts were initiated to restore the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) system and resume its operations.

2001: KDA Under Local Government Control

In 2001, the Karachi Development Authority (KDA) came under the control of Karachi's local government and mayor.

2001: Limited-Overs Matches at the Ground

The national team failed to win any matches in limited-overs matches at the ground from 1996 to 2001.

2004: All Pakistan Music Conference Annual Music Festival Inception

Since its inception in 2004, the All Pakistan Music Conference has been holding its annual music festival.

2005: 2005 SAFF Championship

In 2005, Karachi hosted the 2005 SAFF Championship at the Peoples Football Stadium.

2005: Election of City Nazim and Naib Nazim

In 2005, Syed Mustafa Kamal was elected City Nazim of Karachi, succeeding Naimatullah Khan, and Nasreen Jalil was elected as the City Naib Nazim.

2006: Tax and Customs Responsibilities in Karachi (2006-2007)

According to the Federal Board of Revenue's 2006–2007 year book, tax and customs units in Karachi were responsible for 46.75% of direct taxes, 33.65% of federal excise tax, and 23.38% of domestic sales tax.

2007: Tax and Customs Responsibilities in Karachi (2006-2007)

According to the Federal Board of Revenue's 2006–2007 year book, tax and customs units in Karachi were responsible for 46.75% of direct taxes, 33.65% of federal excise tax, and 23.38% of domestic sales tax.

2007: Geo Super Football League

In 2007, Karachi hosted the Geo Super Football League, attracting capacity crowds during the games.

2007: National Games of Pakistan

Karachi hosted the National Games of Pakistan in 2007.

2009: Karachi Fashion Week

Since 2009, Karachi has hosted the annual Karachi Fashion Week, reinforcing its status as Pakistan's fashion capital.

2010: Influx of Pashtun Refugees

The year 2010 saw another influx of hundreds of thousands of Pashtun refugees fleeing conflict in North-West Pakistan and the Pakistan floods of 2010.

July 2011: Reversion to District Municipal Corporations

In July 2011, the city district government of Karachi was reverted to its original constituent units known as District Municipal Corporations (DMC).

2011: Intestinal Parasites in Middle-Class Children

As of 2011, half of all middle-class children in Karachi have intestinal parasites attributed to poor water quality.

2011: Foreign Migrants in Karachi

In 2011, an estimated 2.5 million foreign migrants lived in the city, mostly from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka.

2011: KDA Under Sindh Government Control

In 2011, the Karachi Development Authority (KDA) was placed under the direct control of the Government of Sindh. The LDA and MDA were also revived by the Pakistan Peoples Party government, allegedly to patronize their electoral allies and voting banks.

2011: Revival of City Planning Authorities

In 2011, the Pakistan Peoples Party government revived the Lyari Development Authority and Malir Development Authority, allegedly to patronize their electoral allies and voting banks.

2011: Dismantling of Union Council System

In 2011, the Union Council system in Karachi was dismantled.

2012: Sindh Madressatul Islam Granted University Status

In 2012, the Sindh Madressatul Islam, founded in 1885, was granted university status.

2012: Terrorist Incidents Dropped

Terrorist incidents dropped by 98% between 2012 and 2017, according to Pakistan's Interior Ministry.

November 2013: Creation of Korangi District

In November 2013, Korangi District, the sixth DMC, was carved out from District East in Karachi.

2013: Extortion Crimes Decreased

Extortion crimes decreased by 80% between 2013 and 2015 in Karachi.

2013: Hindu population in Karachi

In 2013, Karachi has a large Hindu community with an estimated population of 250,000 and several active temples in central Karachi. The community is split into affluent Sindhi and Punjabi Hindus, and poorer Rajasthani and Marwari Hindus.

2013: Controversial Crackdown Operation Initiated

In 2013, a controversial crackdown operation against criminals, the MQM political party, and Islamist militants was initiated by the Pakistan Rangers, leading to decreased violent crime rates.

2013: Crackdown Operation

In 2013, a controversial crackdown operation was initiated against criminals, the MQM party, and Islamist militants by the Pakistan Rangers.

2013: Karachi's population according to PPP

Senator Taj Haider from the PPP claimed he had official documents revealing the city's population to be 25.6 million in 2013.

2014: Karachi's Numbeo Crime Index Ranking

According to the Numbeo Crime Index in 2014, Karachi was ranked the 6th most dangerous city in the world.

2014: Number of Karachiites Killed

In 2014, 2,023 Karachiites were killed in either acts of terror or other crime.

2014: Karachi Crime Ranking

In 2014, Karachi was ranked the world's 6th most dangerous city for crime.

2014: D. J. Sindh Government Science College Granted University Status

In 2014, the D. J. Sindh Government Science College, established in 1887, was granted university status.

2015: Chinese migrants after 2015

Chinese also reached Karachi after 2015 in large number due to the CPEC project.

2015: Decrease in Killings

In 2015, 1,040 Karachiites were killed in either acts of terror or other crime, an almost 50% decrease from the 2,023 killed in 2014.

2015: Decrease in Karachi's Homicide Rate

In 2015, Karachi's homicide rate decreased by 75% compared to 2013, with 650 homicides recorded.

2015: Karachi Homicide Rate

In 2015, Karachi's homicide rate was 12.5 per 100,000, lower than the homicide rate of several American cities.

2015: Pakistan Stock Exchange rated Asia's best-performing stock market

In 2015, the Pakistan Stock Exchange was rated as Asia's best-performing stock market on the heels of Pakistan's upgrade to emerging-market status by MSCI.

February 2016: Inauguration of Karachi Metrobus Project

On 25 February 2016, the Karachi Metrobus project, a 6-line 150-kilometre bus rapid transit system, was inaugurated by then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He stated that the project would be more beautiful than the Lahore Metro Bus. Orange and Green Lines are operational while Red-Line is underconstruction.

2016: Waseem Akhtar as Mayor of Karachi

Between 2016 and 2020, Waseem Akhtar served as the mayor of Karachi, with Arshad Hassan as Deputy Mayor, as part of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC).

2016: Kidnapping Cases Registered

By 2016, the city registered a total of 21 cases of kidnap for ransom.

2016: Karachi's Numbeo Crime Index Ranking

By the middle of 2016, Karachi's rank in the Numbeo Crime Index had dropped to 31 following the launch of anti-crime operations.

2016: Number of Murders in Karachi

In 2016, the number of murders in Karachi had dropped to 471.

2016: Karachi's population according to Sindh Bureau of Statistics

The Sindh Bureau of Statistics, part of by the PPP-led provincial administration, estimated Karachi's 2016 population to be 19.1 million.

April 2017: Highest Recorded Temperature

On April 22 and 23, 2017, Karachi's highest recorded temperature of 48.0 °C (118.4 °F) was recorded.

2017: FDI Strategy ranking

According to The Global FDI Intelligence Report 2017/2018 published by Financial Times, Karachi ranks amongst the top 10 Asia pacific cities of the future for FDI strategy.

2017: New Early Warning System Launched

In 2017, Karachi municipal authorities launched a new early warning system to alert city residents to a forecasted heatwave.

2017: Number of Homicides Dropped Further

In 2017, the number of homicides in Karachi had dropped further to 381.

2017: Number of Murders in Karachi

In 2017, the number of murders in Karachi had dropped further to 381.

2017: Karachi's census in 2017

Lower than expected population figures from the census suggest that Karachi's poor infrastructure, law and order situation, and weakened economy relative to other parts of Pakistan made the city less attractive to in-migration than previously thought. The 2017 census showed a population of 14.9 million.

2017: Muhajir Urdu-speaking community in 2017

The Muhajir Urdu-speaking community in the 2017 census forms slightly less than 45% of the city's population.

2017: Year 2017

This entry simply contains the year 2017

2018: Karachi's Numbeo Crime Index Ranking

By 2018, Karachi's ranking in the Numbeo Crime Index had dropped to 50.

2018: Karachi Ranked third for consumer expenditure growth

In 2018 Karachi was ranked third in the world for consumer expenditure growth with its market anticipated to increase by 6.6% in real terms.

2018: Jinnah International Airport Passenger Volume

In 2018, Karachi's Jinnah International Airport was the busiest airport in Pakistan, handling a total of 7.2 million passengers.

2018: Karachi's economy ranked

In 2018, The Global Metro Monitor Report ranked Karachi's economy as the best performing metropolitan economy in Pakistan.

2019: Privatization of K-Electric

In 2019, K-Electric, the sole electricity provider in Karachi, was privatised, although the government retained some shares.

August 2020: Formation of Keamari District

In August 2020, the Sindh cabinet approved the formation of the seventh district in Karachi, Keamari District, by splitting District West.

November 2020: Partial Revival of Karachi Circular Railway

In November 2020, the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) partially revived operations after being fully operational between 1969 and 1999 and undergoing restoration efforts since 2001.

2020: Vaccines Available in Major Hospitals

During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, vaccines were available in all major hospitals in Karachi.

2020: End of Waseem Akhtar's Term as Mayor

In 2020, Waseem Akhtar's term as the mayor of Karachi came to an end.

2021: Karachi's GDP

As of 2021, Karachi had an estimated GDP (PPP) of $190 billion with a yearly growth rate of 5.5%. Karachi contributes 90% of Sindh's GDP and accounts for approximately 25% of the total GDP of Pakistan.

2021: Vaccines Available in Major Hospitals

During the 2021 COVID-19 pandemic, vaccines were available in all major hospitals in Karachi.

2021: Karachi's Numbeo Crime Index Ranking

In 2021, Karachi's ranking in the Numbeo Crime Index fell to 115.

2022: Syed Saif-ur-Rehman Appointed Administrator of Karachi

As of 2022, Syed Saif-ur-Rehman is the Administrator of Karachi.

2022: Karachi Crime Ranking Improvement

By 2022, as a result of the crackdown operation, Karachi's crime ranking improved to 128th in the world.

2022: Cleanliness Survey

In 2022 survey, 53% of Karachi residents reported that the state of their neighbourhood's cleanliness was either "bad" or "very bad".

2022: Drainage System Issues

In 2022, 75% reported that Karachi's drainage system overflows or backs up, the highest percentage of all major Pakistani cities. Parts of the city's drainage system overflow on average 2–7 times per month, flooding some city streets.

2022: Water Supply Statistics

In 2022, 80% of Karachi households had access to piped water, with private water tankers supplying much of the water required in informal settlements. 15% of residents rated their water supply as "bad" or "very bad", and 40% expressed concern at the stability of water supply. By 2022, an estimated 35,000 people were dying annually due to water-borne diseases.

2022: Karachi's Numbeo Crime Index Ranking

In 2022, Karachi's ranking in the Numbeo Crime Index fell further to 128th place.

2022: KCR included in CPEC, Construction Started

In 2022, Shehbaz Sharif included KCR in CPEC and construction started. The existing 43 km KCR track and stations would be completely rebuilt into an automated rapid transit system with electric trains, similar to Lahore's Orange Train, and joint stations with Karachi Metrobus.

2022: Buildings Under Construction

In 2022, at least 50 150m+ buildings were underconstruction in Karachi.

2022: Flood Refugees

In 2022, at least one million flood affectees from Sindh and Balochistan took refuge in Karachi.

2022: Launch of Peoples Bus Service

In 2022, the provincial government launched the Peoples Bus Service, consisting of a fleet of over 100 buses operating on 12 different routes with a nominal fare. The buses are air-conditioned, equipped with Wi-Fi, offer priority seating for disabled and elderly passengers, and are wheelchair accessible.

2022: Migration to Karachi due to the 2022 Economic Crisis in Sri Lanka

Many Sri Lankans moved to Karachi due to the 2022 Economic Crisis in Sri Lanka.

2023: Karachi Central is the most densely populated district

According to 2023 Census, with 55,396.01 residents per square kilometre Karachi Central is the most densely populated district of the seven districts of Karachi as well as the entirety of Pakistan.

2023: Literacy rate in Karachi districts

According to the 2023 Census of Pakistan, Central is the most literate district among all the districts of Karachi and Sindh.

2023: Karachi's Population

According to the 2023 Census of Pakistan, Karachi's total population was 20.3 million, making it one of the world's fastest-growing cities.

2023: Linguistic breakdown of Karachi Division in 2023

As per the 2023 census, this entry states that it contains the linguistic breakdown of Karachi Division.

2023: Murtaza Wahab Elected Mayor of Karachi

In 2023, Murtaza Wahab of PPP was elected the mayor of Karachi.

2023: Mall of Karachi Opening

In 2023, another mega mall/entertainment complex named 'Mall of Karachi' situated at the bottom of Pakistan's tallest skyscraper Bahria Icon Tower will be opened.

2023: Parsi Population Census

In 2023, the census recorded approximately 1,435 Parsis remaining in Karachi.

2023: Year 2023

This entry simply contains the year 2023

2025: Increase of households with annual income above $20,000

Karachi is also ranked among the top cities in the world by an anticipated increase of a number of households (1.3 million households) with annual income above $20,000 measured at PPP exchange rates by 2025.