The grandeur of Empress Market

Dawn.com Published May 30, 2011
Naseem Khan Kakar, 52, from Quetta adjusts his cap while standing at his dried fruits stall in Karachi's Empress Market.
Naseem Khan Kakar, 52, from Quetta adjusts his cap while standing at his dried fruits stall in Karachi's Empress Market.
Using a heavy press that needs to be pushed manually, Mohammad Arif, 30, works extremely hard to extract oil from poppy seeds and almonds.
Using a heavy press that needs to be pushed manually, Mohammad Arif, 30, works extremely hard to extract oil from poppy seeds and almonds.
Mohammad Arif pours the extracted oil into a bottle, which he will later sell for around 40 dollars a kilo.
Mohammad Arif pours the extracted oil into a bottle, which he will later sell for around 40 dollars a kilo.
There are numerous dried fruit stalls marking the opening of the Empress Market. Here, a shop owner with sacks full of dried almonds, coconuts, poppy seeds etc.
There are numerous dried fruit stalls marking the opening of the Empress Market. Here, a shop owner with sacks full of dried almonds, coconuts, poppy seeds etc.
With his chickens hanging on the side, Israr, 25, from Karachi poses for the camera.
With his chickens hanging on the side, Israr, 25, from Karachi poses for the camera.
Israr, the butcher, tries to give a sinister appearance while posing with his knife and cutting board.
Israr, the butcher, tries to give a sinister appearance while posing with his knife and cutting board.
Men get shaved in the local barbershop.
Men get shaved in the local barbershop.
A butcher places his winning fighting cock on his table. The cock, which had quickly devoured a few tiny morsels of meat, steps on the cutting board looking for more.
A butcher places his winning fighting cock on his table. The cock, which had quickly devoured a few tiny morsels of meat, steps on the cutting board looking for more.
A boy poses with a very large hoof for a photograph.
A boy poses with a very large hoof for a photograph.
Chiragh Din, 55, from Karachi sits on top of his cart with the hooves he hopes to sell.
Chiragh Din, 55, from Karachi sits on top of his cart with the hooves he hopes to sell.
A vegetable seller blows a bit of smoke.
A vegetable seller blows a bit of smoke.

The essence of Karachi is felt at the Empress Market packed with people and shops - it’s a place one should be to experience the local flavor. – Photos and captions by Madeeha Syed/Dawn Newspaper.

 

 

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Comments (3) Closed
KTareen
May 30, 2011 06:30pm
The title for the pictures was curious to say the least, instead of the 'Granduer of Empress Market' it should have been 'scraping out an existence in Empress Market'
Recommend 0
Rafiq Ebrahim
May 30, 2011 09:03pm
Nostalgic! Reminded me of the time when I was a little boy going to Empress Market with my mother. A full basket of crabs could be had for a rupee! That was 5 or 6 decades ago.
Recommend 0
Fareed Khan
May 31, 2011 02:14pm
A potenially worderful market but my god, the filth and the stench, the flies and the disorder! Who is the chap responsible for hygiene, organization and discipline? Why the unauthorized extensions, where is the parking? Was it like that before 1947?
Recommend 0

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