Karachi, Oct.4 (ANI): Pakistan's commercial capital - Karachi - has become a city with weird and unique names. Each name, however, has a history behind it.
According to the Daily Times, the names have a history going back 60 to 70 years, and the the arrival of people from Khyber (NWFP) to Khuzdar (Balochistan) and Chitral (Northern Areas) to Cholistan (Punjab) and Mansehra to Turbat is being seen as a factor in this development.
The city has a colony going by the name of "Khamosh" or "Silent", but the irony is that the colony is far from silent.
Then, there is "Lalu Khet" or the "Fields of Lalu", but there isn't a single field in its vicinity.
The "Teen Hatti" or "Three Shops" bus stop has now become a massive jungle of thousands of shops.
"Hijrat" or "Migrant" Colony is where migrants from different parts of the country settled.
"Faqir" or "Beggar" Colony in Orangi Town has no beggars and "Kharkar" or "Gypsy" Colony in the city's Chowrangi area have no gypsy families.
"Anda Morr" or "Blind Turning" is still in the shape of an oval, but New Karachi has become "Old Karachi" due to the negligence of officials and the careless attitude of residents.
Then, there is the "Geedar" or "Jackal" Colony in Landhi Town, which has been renamed Muzzafarabad Colony.
The junction of four roads and four lanes in Lyari Town has been known as Aath (eight) Chowk, providing a large number of people access to various directions.
A philanthropist to provide shelter to widows established "Bewah" or "Widow" Colony but now it has become one of the most posh localities in Manzoor Colony and Azam Basti.
The people living between the Cantonment Railway Station and Defense Housing Authority (DHA) have given the area the name "Kala Pul" or "Black Bridge", which was replaced with a concrete structure by the government a decade ago but the entire area is still called Kala Pul.
Before Partition, the British government established a market exclusively for its soldiers and even today, the market is fully operational and is still called the "Soldier Bazaar".
Then, there is the "Gutter Bagicha" or the "Ditch Garden", a junction of various sewerage lines spreading over 200 acres near the Lyari River, which was developed for the cultivation of vegetables, but where no vegetable cultivation takes place.
"Khuda Ki Basti" or "God's Colony" is a settlement established by the government for poor people along the Super Highway is still known by this unique name even after two decades of negligence, when the entire locality has become one of the busiest places in the outskirts of the city.
In Landhi Town, a massive cattle colony established to cater for the need of fresh milk and meat of citizens is known as "Bhains" or "Buffalo" Colony and people in the area have no option but to use this weird name in their postal addresses.
"Machhar" Colony in Kemari Town was first named Machhera (fishermen) Colony, indicating the profession of the majority of its residents, who were, and still are, Bengalis.
Today, this illegal slum area, which lacks a proper sewerage system and sanitary conditions, has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and is thus known by the name Machhar.
In many bazaars of Karachi, there are various Resham Galis (silk streets) where items related to ladies' clothes like colourful laces, buttons, threads and dupattas are found.
These unique names are not only used on shop boards but are also commonly seen on visiting cards, banners and now also on various websites. (ANI)
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