Saddar ( ur, ), also known as Saddar Bazaar, is a neighbourhood in
Karachi
Karachi (; ur, ; ; ) is the most populous city in Pakistan and 12th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 20 million. It is situated at the southern tip of the country along the Arabian Sea coast. It is the former cap ...
,
Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
.
The locality was developed as the primary commercial district during the period of British-era rule in Karachi. As a result, Saddar contains the large concentration of colonial-era architecture in Karachi.
History
Saddar was established by the British in 1839 as a commercial district for Karachi's European population, to the east of the bazaars of old Karachi in
Mithadar
Mithadar ( ur, میٹھادر ) is one of the neighbourhoods of Saddar Town in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, and comprises the oldest part of Karachi that was once encircled by a wall. Mithadar and the adjacent community of Kharadar together form wha ...
,
Kharadar
Kharadar ( ur, کھارادر ) is a neighbourhood in District South of Karachi, Pakistan. Kharadar and the adjacent communities of Mithadar and Jodia Bazaar together form what is regarded as the original core of Karachi.
Etymology
''Kharadar' ...
, and Jodia Bazaar which served the native population. Following the annexation of
Sindh
Sindh (; ; ur, , ; historically romanized as Sind) is one of the four provinces of Pakistan. Located in the southeastern region of the country, Sindh is the third-largest province of Pakistan by land area and the second-largest province ...
in 1843, Saddar became the location of administrative and military functions. Following the
Mutiny of 1857
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 was a major uprising in India in 1857–58 against the rule of the British East India Company, which functioned as a sovereign power on behalf of the British Crown. The rebellion began on 10 May 1857 in the for ...
, rebels were executed at by being blown from the mouths of cannons at Saddar's military parade grounds.
Karachi's most elite Catholic institutions were quickly established in Karachi: St Patrick's High School and St Joseph's Convent High School, wereset up in 1861 and 1862 respectively.
The
Edulji Dinshaw Dispensary Edulji Dinshaw Dispensary (), officially the Eduljee Dinshaw Charitable Dispensary, is a building in the Saddar neighborhood of central Karachi, Pakistan. It was built in 1882, and served as a charitable dispensary for Karachi's citizens. It was nam ...
was established in 1882. The "McKenzie Pavilion Grounds", now known as Jehangir Park, was established in 1883.
Empress Market
The Empress Market ( ur, , Sindhi: ايمپريس مارڪيٽ) is a marketplace situated in the Saddar Town locality of Karachi, Pakistan. The market traces its origins to the British Raj era, when it was first constructed. Today, it is among ...
was established at the site of the execution grounds in 1889,
and was originally meant to serve British administrators, soldiers, and their families. The area around the market saw the establishment of posh bars, cafes, and restaurants, such as the Saddar Tea Rooms, Elphinstone Restaurant, the old Todi shop and Café Parisian.
A dress-code was enforced in the posh Saddar area, leading it to be eventually known as the "European Quarter" of Karachi.
Following independence in 1947, Saddar remained a centre of multi-class interaction. Bars, clubs, and business catering to different social classes co-existed in the area.
Several institutions of higher learning were within walking distance, including
D. J. Sindh Government Science College
Dayaram Jethamal Sindh Government Science College, ( sd, ) commonly known as DJ Science College, is a public community college that is affiliated with the University of Karachi — it is located near Burns Road in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
Pre ...
, and
Sindh Muslim Law College
The Sindh Muslim Government Law College (Urdu: سنده مسلم گورنمنٹس لا کالج) or S. M. Law College (Urdu: ایس ایم لاء کالج) is one of the oldest law schools of Pakistan, situated in Karachi, Sindh. The college has ...
, and Regal Bazar became home to a weekly book market that still takes place.
Saddar was also within easy walking distance from government institutions to the east of Saddar, and
Civil Lines
Civil Lines (archaically White Town) are the residential neighbourhoods developed during the British Raj for its senior civilian officers like Divisional commissioner and District magistrate. These townships were built all over the Indian subconti ...
to the south. The most important churches in Karachi are located in Saddar, as well as Karachi's biggest Parsi fire temple.
Following the abolishment of alcohol by
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Zulfikar (or Zulfiqar) Ali Bhutto ( ur, , sd, ذوالفقار علي ڀٽو; 5 January 1928 – 4 April 1979), also known as Quaid-e-Awam ("the People's Leader"), was a Pakistani barrister, politician and statesman who served as the fourth ...
in the early 1970s in an attempt to appease conservative forces, Saddar's nightlife scene was decimated.
In 1977, dictator
Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq
General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq HI, GCSJ, ร.ม.ภ, (Urdu: ; 12 August 1924 – 17 August 1988) was a Pakistani four-star general and politician who became the sixth President of Pakistan following a coup and declaration of martial law in ...
instituted an Islamization agenda that was opposed by the city's wealthy and westernized elite. These classes withdrew from much of public life in Saddar, and instead established exclusive social clubs in Karachi's wealthy residential districts. As a result, Saddar's commercial markets began to serve only lower and lower-middle classes.
The area remained a large commuter hub, and so hawker stalls began encroaching on sidewalks in order to cater to the growing number of commuters.
A large multiplex cinema was established in the early 2000s, leading to a small wave of gentrification in the area. In 2019, in an effort to "clean up" the Empress Market, all stalls outside of the market which had been established in the plaza around the market were demolished in a controversial move.
Gallery
The following are heritage buildings in Saddar which are protected by the
Government of Sindh
The Government of Sindh ( sd, حڪومت سنڌ) ( ur, ) is the provincial government of the province of Sindh, Pakistan. Its powers and structure are set out in the provisions of the 1973 Constitution, in which 30 Districts of 7 Divisions un ...
:
File:Mohammad Ali Building.jpg, The ''Mohamedali'' building is located on Zaibunnisa Street
Zaibunnisa Street (), still sometimes referred to by its former name Elphinstone Street (), is a thoroughfare in central Karachi, Pakistan that courses through Saddar, the city's colonial-era commercial centre. It is believed to have been renamed ...
.
File:Katchi Memon Masjid 02.jpg, The Kutchi Memon
Kutchi Memons ( gu, કચ્છી મેમોન, ur, کچھی میمن), also spelled as Cutchi Memons, are an ethnic group or caste from Kutch in Gujarat, India, who speak the Kutchi language. They are related to the Memons associated with ...
Mosque was built in Saddar, and is a major centre for Memons in the city.
File:St. Andrews church.jpg, St. Andrew's Church in Saddar was built in 1868.
File:Ilaco House Photo by Aliraza Khatri.jpg, Ilaco House on the corner of Dundass and Zaibunnisa Streets
File:Khyber Hotel on a busy street.JPG, The colonial-era Khyber Hotel
File:Edulji Dinshaw Dispensary 01.jpg, Edulji Dinshaw Dispensary Edulji Dinshaw Dispensary (), officially the Eduljee Dinshaw Charitable Dispensary, is a building in the Saddar neighborhood of central Karachi, Pakistan. It was built in 1882, and served as a charitable dispensary for Karachi's citizens. It was nam ...
, built in 1882
File:PK Karachi asv2020-02 img36 Empress Market.jpg, Empress Market
The Empress Market ( ur, , Sindhi: ايمپريس مارڪيٽ) is a marketplace situated in the Saddar Town locality of Karachi, Pakistan. The market traces its origins to the British Raj era, when it was first constructed. Today, it is among ...
, built in 1889
File:Jama Masjid Qasaban.jpg, Qasaban Mosque
File:Farid Mansion.jpg, Farid Mansion, on Raja Ghaznafar Ali Street (Somerset Street)
File:PK Karachi asv2020-02 img40 StPatrick Cathedral.jpg, Saddar's St. Patrick's Cathedral is seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi
The Archdiocese of Karachi is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in India. It was erected on 20 May 1948 under as a then-suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese ...
.
See also
References
External links
Karachi Website
Neighbourhoods of Karachi
Central business districts in Pakistan
Saddar Town
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