Karachi is Pakistan’s biggest city and the second largest city in the world by population. Karachi was the capital of Pakistan until it was replaced by Rawalpindi, then Islamabad, in early sixties. The metropolitan area is inhabited by about 20 million people, with the density of about 5,000 people per square kilometer. The huge crowd poses sophisticated problems, especially in security, sanitary, and public service. In recent years, religious extremism conflicts also get more frequent and severe in Karachi. The latest incidence was the bombing at a religious gathering celebrating the birthday of Prophet Muhammad in Nishtar Park, killing over 50 people. The huge white marble building with mosque-like dome at the upper left corner of the photo is the mausoleum of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, also known as Quaid-i-Azam (the “Great Leader”), who promoted the Partition of Pakistan and India in 1947, and now is respected as the Founding Father of Pakistan.
Karachi, Pakistan, 2006