reclaiming karachi’s edge

As the population continues to spike around the world and countries race to ‘develop’ and expand further, the demand for land has also increased rapidly. And so land reclamation — defined by the International Association of Dredging Companies as the process of creating new land by…

‘Forest of Towers’ puts Karachi’s ancient banyan trees at risk

KARACHI: The year 2014 saw a construction boom in Pakistan’s teeming port city of Karachi after a military operation led to a drop in soaring crime rates.
But as the ‘forest of towers’ came up, Karachi’s ancient banyan trees started to be chopped down to make way.
Particularly at risk were trees in the…

Rambagh Quarter heritage building disappearing

A heritage site called Mendoza Building in Karachi’s historic Rambagh Quarter is being slowly, secretly prepped for demolition.
Architect and heritage consultant Marvi Mazhar documented the changed to alert the authorities. In this case she addressed the letter to Manzoor Kanasaro of the Culture, Tourism and Antiquity department of Sindh.

Another Heritage building bites the dust

One of the oldest colonial-era heritage buildings in Karachi, Bhatia Bhuwan, has largely been demolished, allegedly by its owner, with only the building's façade and peripheral structure remaining intact.

According to area residents, the demolition of the building's…