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[Click on images to enlarge] The Empress Market — Constructed between 1884 and 1889, the Empress Market is one of the busiest and renowned historical structures of Karachi that traces its origins from the British raj era. The name commemorates the Empress of India, Queen Victoria. Planned by James Strachan, the foundations were concluded by the English firm of A.J. Attfield, and the structure was constructed by the local firm of ‘Mahoomed Niwan and Dulloo Khejoo’. Once a glorious structure and celebrated shopping bazaar, it is now deteriorating fast due to negligence and filth. — Left side image: ©The Citizens Archive of Pakistan/A Guide to Karachi, PI Publications
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The population of Karachi grew from around 400,000 in 1947 to approximately 20 million over the period of 65 years.
When the British held complete sway over the subcontinent in the 19th century, many gothic and renaissance styled buildings were constructed all the way through the city.
These buildings were mainly located in the Saddar area of Karachi and still remain famous amongst the people. However, most of them deteriorated over time due to lack of heritage preservation.
On the other hand a city that stood half empty has developed massively over the years and the streets that only housed a handful are now bursting with buildings, people and cars.
However the ancient architecture has not lost its charm over the contemporary construction that is slowly but surely taking over.
Using images from our archive and from the Citizens Archive of Pakistan, Dawn.com went out in search of the places from these old photos — to shoot, document and present just how much the city of Karachi has changed over the years.
— All coloured images and text by Shameen Khan & Nadir Siddiqui/Dawn.com
Napoleon’s ‘death mask’ on auction
Accelerating activism
The art of contrast: within & without
In memory of a Sufi saint
Artists’ impression
An excellent initiative – very nostalgic – Thanks a million!
If the filth in Empress market is taken care off and some face lift is given it can still be a good place to shop.
Victoria road was the second most beautiful street in downtown Karachi after Elphi.
Elphinstone street was a beautiful street up until the mid seventies and was the main shopping bazar of Karachi.
The DJ science college has certainly produced some excellent graduates who later on went to professional universities and did some excellent work both within and outside Pakistan.
The Karachi Gymkhana still looks pretty well maintained.
Karachi is absulotely a fabulas city, but people are not that fabulas to be honest..
Vintage photos look better because there wasnt enough population back then, it should have been kept that way. Unfortunately, the city which could have become California turned into a living hell.
The people who erase the part of their history they don’t like would be erased themselves shortly.
Incidentally, I have a suggestion to speed up the matter: Erase the war about East Pakistan. Lets pretend there was only West Pakistan, East Pakistan never existed.
Great memorial pictures…Karachi where I grew up.
Karachi is my favorite city.
Very Nice
Thanks for Sharing
Purely amazing, and saddening too
Looking at the british era one cannot help wishing that instead of leaving the sub continent in 1947 they should have left in 2047.
nothing is better then being an independent…
Loved it completely!! Thank you so much for sharing
not just monochrome, trees are also missing in new image
My father was the chairman of the Afghan National Bank, Karachi, India from 1946 to 1948 and then he was transferred to Afghan National Bank, Bombay, India. He had nothing but high regards for Karachi and he considered Karachi as the most beautiful city of the then India. Thanks for posting the photos.
Pretty… somehow old images always look better. I think it is more to do with the monochrome effect! Looks very similar to Bombay
yeah, actually OLD is GOLd….
good efforts guys…