The Best of Both Worlds

I envision a city with beautiful, valuable heritage that has been nurtured and restored. I wish for every single person living there, to have a sense of belonging to where they live. I dream of Karachi in its full glory one day; with a beautiful blend of modernism and old world charm; something that this amazing and captivating city can boast of. Karachi might not have a history as old as that of Lahore, Shikarpur or Thatta; but it has something which most cities in our country don't have..the best of both worlds. The main business hub with a port, yet dotted with architecturally rich historic neighbourhoods. A city that has so much to offer to both locals and tourists..the Old Town area, the bustling city life, the lovely little shops crammed with local goods and the fast-appearing malls with international food chains opening up rapidly. For a tourist, it has everything, from mystique to history, from comforts to a world worth exploring. Once you enter the intriguing world that this city has to offer, there is so much to discover and enjoy. One can simply start with Saddar area. Due to the presence of old buildings, it has its own identity and character. Saddar has its own distinctive environment as well as social and historical significance. The old Bohri Bazaar area, the Empress Market and Elphinstone Street amongst others mark the historical era of the city. Many of the old buildings here, though under-utilized, abandoned or dilapidated, still sing a beautiful melancholic song from the by-gone era. We just need to listen..we need to take care of these pieces of art..we need to preserve them, restore them, re-adapt them without destroying their true character. We need to condition our children to be proud of who we are and what we possess in terms of architecture, history, culture, heritage. We must join hands and work together and give this city what it truly deserves. So my friends, this one is to Karachi!