:: Karachi :: vs :: Lahore ::: December 2010

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Empress Market, Karachi

Location: Saddar Town, Karachi

Constructed: between 1884 and 1889

Designed by: James Strachan

Constructed by: ‘Mahoomed Niwan and Dulloo Khejoo’

Location: Lahore, Pakistan
Constructed in: Reign of Mughal emperor Jalal-ud-Din Akbar (1556–1605)
Area: 20 Hectares
Features:

13 Gates

Karachi and Lahore are two major cities of Pakistan. First one is financial hub of the country and known as important port of the South Asia, and second one is historical city and has its own special value as it was very important in Mughal Era.

People of Karachi and Lahore always compare these two cities with each other in every field like Education, Sports, Showbiz, Health and also Culture. People of both cities admire their own city as superior. It's very healthful for development of the cities as well.

Karachi is called "Mini Pakistan" because there live people from every area of the country. It's a metropolitan city and people are very helpful.

Lahore is called "City of Jolly People" or "Zinda Dil City ". People of Lahore are very warm welcomer. They are funny, entertainer and never leave a chance of fun.

Here are some comparisons between Lahore and Karachi. Places, Events, Personalities, Culture like Everything. Hope you will like and appreciate this blog.

Friday, December 17, 2010

The Mall Road, Lahore

Toolinton Market

The Mall in Lahore, Pakistan (also known as Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam), is one of the city's major roads, and one of its most famous too. The Mall has significant historical and cultural value, because The Mall is consisted of collection of buildings which were built in Mughal and British era.

Buildings or monuments which are famous on The Mall are:

Lahore Museum
Lahore Zoo
National College of Arts

Also known as "The National Mausoleum"

Tomb of the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Iconic symbol of Karachi
Built in: 1960s
Stone used: White marble
Neighborhoods: M.A Jinnah Road, University Road, Shahra-e-Quaideen

Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar Road as known as I. I. Chundrigar Road is the financial headquarters of Pakistan and the center of Karachi's banking and financial institutions. Situated in the heart of Karachi, it was known as McLeod Road but was later renamed after the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar. The road starts from the Merewether Memorial Tower near Former Lloyds bank building (Now Saudi-Pak bank) up to Shaheen complex. An estimated 15 percent of all Karachi traffic pass from this road.

Most of the headquarters of Pakistan's financial institutions are located on the I.I. Chundrigar Road, including the State Bank of Pakistan which is Pakistan's Central Bank, Major Banks like HBL Plaza, MCB Tower, National Bank of Pakistan, Bank Al-Falah, Standard Chartered Bank, CitiBank, UBL, etc.

Pakistan's most circulated newspapers including Jang Newspaper, Daily Times, TV Channels including Geo TV, CNBC Pakistan, Hum TV, AAG TV and Dhoom TV are also located on I.I. Chundrigar Road. Consulates of Tunisia, Sweden, Sierra Leone, Norway, Guinea, Gambia and Finland are also based here.

Two of Karachi's largest computer markets Uni Plaza and Techno city; Police Headquarters and nearby Rangers Headquarters are also located near this road.

In 2007 Sharjah-based Enshaa Holdings in a joint venture with NLC has launched Karachi International Financial center on II Chundrigar road which will comprise of a hotel, office towers, serviced apartments and a railway station. The Karachi Financial Towers will include two identical 37-storey towers connected by a three-floor glass skybridge.

I. I. Chundrigar Road has always been the financial center of Karachi's economy. Most of the biggest businesses and financial institutions in the city have offices here including the Karachi Stock Exchange, Karachi Cotton Exchange, Mutual Funds, Money Exchangers, Auditing companies, Insurance companies and Shipping companies. Karachi's largest GPO and Telegraph office is also located here. British-era architecture on this street ranges from the Former Lloyds Bank building to the City Railway Station buildings and administrative offices. This road also preserves some of the finest private architecture from Karachi's early period. World famous "Mashhud Chowk" is also located at the junction of Shara-e-Faisal and Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar Road.

Now See: The Mall Road, Lahore

Data Durbar, Lahore

Hazrat Syed Ali bin Usman Hajweri, RA, popularly known as Data Ganj Bakhsh ( Bestower of Spiritual Treasures ) or in common langauage; simply - Data Darbar Lahore, belonged to a place called Hajwer in the town of Ghazni, Afghanistan. He lived during the 5th century AH ( 11th century AD ), and was well versed in all the Islamic sciences such as Tafsir; (exegesis) of the Holy Qur'an, Hadith; (Traditions of the Prophet), Fiqh; (Muslim Law) and dogmatic theology; (Ilmu Kalam). Al Hajweri's spiritual lineage traces back to Hazrat Junaid Baghdadi, RA, through the three intermediaries al-Husri, an-Nasrabi and Shibli.

In the course of his spiritual journey to God, he journeyed physically to many countries, often alone and with hardship. These places included Turkestan, Transoxania, Iran, Iraq, and Syria where he met innumerable Sufi sheikhs, many of whom he has mentioned in his book 'Kashf ul Mahjoob'. He came to Lahore in the later part of his life for the specific purpose of Tablegh ( preaching and teaching ) Islam, converting large numbers of people into Muslim Ummah. He passed away in Lahore in 469 AH (1077 AD), where his Muquam currently stands, is visited by people of all walks of life, from far and near.

Dargah Sharif Data Ganj Bakhsh, RA: The mausoleum of the great mystic saint Abu Hasan Ali Hajweri is situated near Bha'tee Gate, one of the gates of the walled city of Lahore, Pakistan. The Ghaznavi king Sultan Zakiruddin Ibrahim built his mausoleum. Day and night devotees come in large numbers to pay homage to the saint. On Thursdays, groups of musicians sing the mystic song 'Qawali' and the dervaishe of the saint dance the mystic 'Dhamal'.

He was the proud author of 'Kashaf ul Mahjoob', a beautiful book on Islamic mysticism.

Now See: Abdullah Shah Ghazi's Mazar, Karachi

Abdullah Shah Ghazi's Mazar, Karachi

Mazaar of Abdullah Shah Ghazi, who came from Madinah to preach Islam.

Now See: Data Durbar, Lahore

Fortress, Lahore

The Fortress Stadium (shortened as simply Fortress) is a popular open space consisting of shopping centres, restaurants, cafes and entertainment areas and a sports stadium. It is located Lahore Cantt, Lahore, Pakistan. Among the likes of M. M. Alam road and Liberty in Gulberg, this area is a popular locale for the urban youth in Lahore. Fortress Stadium is also one of the most busy commercial areas of the city.

Attractions:

Fortress Stadium is a large shopping complex in nature. Number of boutiques along the Fortress Stadium offer trendy ready to wear formal and casual wear for ladies, gents and for kids. There is a tremendous range of shoes, perfumes, cosmetics, designers’ jewellery, decorations, gifts, toys and other accessories. Fortress Stadium also features a number of classical and fast-food restaurants.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Safari Park, Karachi

Safari Park is located in Gulshan-e-Iqbal in Karachi, Pakistan. There is a Zoo , Children's Play land and a large number of gardens in Safari Park. It is one of the major recreation and amusement park in Karachi.

Karachi Safari Park is located at Main University Road, having an area of 300 acres (1.2 km2) land, inaugurated by Lieutenant General Atiq-ur-Rehman in 1970. It was an independent project of the then Karachi Municipal Corporation.

Safari Park is now announced as an independent part of Community Development Department of City District Government of Karachi (CDGK). Now this has been declared as a Family Park.

There is an adventure park named as Go-aish adventure park also running in Safari Park, another amusement park, Aladin Park is also a part of Safari Park.

Safari Park is also unique as being the only project/park in the Sindh to have a proper Chairlift. The Chairlift was setup at a cost of US$ 2 Million and was opened on 8 March 2006. The amazing 10 minutes ride crosses a manmade lake and provides lovely views of the city as well as various animal and bird life.

Shalamar Bagh, Lahore

Historical garden in Lahore. Built by Emperor Shah Jehan in 1642 AD

Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi

One of the Top business school of the country , located in Karachi University New Campus.

Now See: Lahore University of Management Sceince (LUMS), Lahore

Gawalmandi Food Street, Lahore

Place of traditional foods and historical surroundings, with full of taste and enjoyment.

Port of Karachi

Karachi Port Trust HQ

The Largest and Important Port of Pakistan, It has very significant value in Asia.

Karachi Port

Lahore University of Management Science (LUMS), Lahore

The top business school of Pakistan!
Located at Defence Housing Authority Lahore.

LUMS - Night View

Now See: Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi

MCB Tower, Karachi

Highest Building of Pakistan (in 2010)
Headquarter of MCB Bank Limited
Location: I.I. Chundrigar Road, Karachi
Height: 116 meters (381 ft.)
Floors: 29 floors and 3 basements
Built in: 2005

Location : Lahore, Pakistan
Built by: Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir
Built in: 1671-1673 A.D
Capacity: 100,000

Second largest Mosque in Pakistan and Seventh largest in the World. It remained the largest mosque in the world from 1673 to 1986 (a period of 313 years)

Mohatta Palace, Karachi

Location: Clifton, Karachi

Built by: Shivratan Chandraratan Mohatta

Architect: Agha Ahmed Hussain

Stone used: Pink Jodhpur Stone, Local Yellow Stone

Its situated near sea in Clifton.

Minar-e-Pakistan, Lahore

Also know as Yaadgaar
Location: Iqbal Park Lahore
Height: 72 meters
Famous for: The historical "Resolution of Pakistan" held here on 23rd march 1940.

Now See: Mazar-e-Quaid, Karachi

Clifton Beach, Karachi

Most popular picnic point in Karachi

Location: Arabian Sea, Clifton, Karachi

Neighborhoods: Clifton, Defence Housing Authority, Saddar Town

Features: Beachside horse and Camel rides, Amusements Parks, Restaurents, Cineplex Cinema, Swimming in Arabian Sea

Other beaches in Karachi : Hawke's Bay, Sandspit, Paradise Point, French Beach, Capemount

"He who hasn't seen Lahore, has not yet been born"

Lahore is Lahore
Heart of Pakistan
As known as "City of Jolly-Hearted People"
Capital of Punjab province
Second largest city of Pakistan
About 11 million of population
Ranked 40 in the most populated urban areas in the world
2nd Best Tourist Destination in Pakistan
Historical City
Famous "Basant" of Lahore
Home of Pakistan's Film Industry
Regional Capital of the Empires of the Shahi Kingdoms in 11th century
Regional Capital of the Empires of the Mehmood Ghaznivi's Kingdoms in 12th century
Regional Capital of the Ghouri's Kingdoms in 12th and 13th century
Regional Capital of the Mughal Empire in 16th century
Regional Capital of the Sikh Empire in the early 19th century
It was capital of the Punjab region under the British era in the mid of the 19th and early 20th century
Major Center for Education in Pakistan