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Window to Karachi |
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Window to Karachi |
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General Information Getting Here In Karachi Culture History The past Recent events Weather Links |
History: Karachi and PakistanAlexander the Great of Macedonia is said to have played a vital role in Karachi's history. Some historians think that Alexander planned a port at the mouth of the Indus, which is now Karachi. Other historians say that a station on the return voyage of Alexander's fleet led by Nearchus was most likely the position of Karachi's harbor. That station was called Morontobara. Another historian believes that Karachi is actually ancient Debal, an important location for Muslim people.Most people trace Karachi back to the time when it was a small fishing village. This village was known as Kalachi-jo-Ghote. By the mid-18th century, Kalachi-jo-Ghote was a trading post and town. This was during the Mughal Empire. As the trading post flourished and became known widely, Lt. John Porter was sent on behalf of the British East India Company by Governor-General Hastings to visit Crochey Town. By 1783, tribal fighting was taking place over the territory. The Talpurs won Crochey Town. As the Mughal Empire fell apart, the arrival of Marquess of Wellesley in 1798 was critical to the changes about to take place in history. The East India Company's force was also rising. In 1799, Lord Wellesley initiated the first political mission of the British by establishing a factory in Currachee. Although the factory closed within a year, the trade potential of Currachee was now well known by the British. During the First Anglo-Afghan War in 1839, Sindh rulers signed a treaty to ensure British military presence in Karachi. Lord Wellesely led the troup into Karachi Harbor on February 2, 1839. The Talpurs surrendered Karachi's Manora Port. The Agreement of Surrender of Karachi was signed on February 7, 1839, giving possession of the Fort and Town of Karachi to the British Forces. By 1843, all of the Sindh province was annexed to the British Empire. The maritime city of Karachi served as the administrative capital of the province, with Sir Charles Napier as the governor. Sir Napier worked hard in developing Karachi as a significant trading port. After Sir Napier left Sindh in 1847, Sir Bartle Frere became the first Commissioner-in-Sindh. Karachi's establishments and growth over the next 50 years were tremendous. Railways were established, port facilities continued to develop and the population continued to increase. Once the Suez Canal opened in 1869, Karachi was the subcontinent's closest port to Europe. Also in the 1860s, the American Civil War contributed to facilitating a large-scale export of cotton to English factories. By the end of the century, Karachi had become the biggest wheat exporter in the East. During World War I, Karachi served as the headquarters of Allied Operations in the Middle East. In 1920, a regular air mail service was set up between Karachi and Bombay. Newspaper companies were started in the years to come, as well as educational facilities and universities established. Karachi once again played an important role in World War II. This port city became a strategic naval base during the Second World War. In 1947, the South Asian subcontinent changed its path in history. The British Empire ruled no more. India became two nations, in what is known as Partition. During the Partition, Pakistan was born under independence. Hundreds of thousands of Indian Muslims migrated to Pakistan, both East and West. Hindus that had previously made their home in Pakistan migrated to India. Many of those migrating to Pakistan started a new life for themselves in Karachi, the capital of this new country. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, who had led the Muslim League in the vow for independence, became the first president. He died one year later and is known today as the Quaid-I-Azam, or Great Leader, of Pakistan. The country of Pakistan changed its territory in the early 1970s. East Pakistan separated and became known as Bangladesh. West Pakistan became simply Pakistan. During the East and West Pakistan separation into two nations, a large number of migrants from Bangladesh arrived in Karachi, once again adding to the population. One of the earliest estimates of population for Karachi was 13,000 in 1813. By 1901, this number had risen to 136,297, which would have been higher if cholera had not been widespread. In 1931, the population was recorded at 300,779 and then at 435,887 in 1941. By 1951, the population had taken a tremendous jump to 1,137,667. Statistics for 1981 show the number of people living in Karachi at 5 1/2 million. The population of this multiethnic South Asian urban center is estimated today at 14 million. Useful Sites
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