Karachi reaching for sky with high-rise developments

All residents of Karachi are aware that the city contributes some 20% to the total GDP of the entire country, it is the financial center of Pakistan and is also Pakistan’s most famous city. Since the political crises of the 1980s and the resultant economic backlash the city and the country has struggled with much capital leaving the city. Since the global downturn the city has seen another wave of economic stagnation, but as the world recovers and the local and national government build international integrity, the future fortunes of the city look promising.

The headlines in recent weeks, and even months, have been flooded with stories about political violence in the city. Ethnic violence and factional politics have plagued Karachi for many years now and it has been on the rise recently, 17 killed here, 13 killed there, insurgency on the rise, Karachi in chaos. These are the presentations of Karachi given to the world.

The news headlines are part of the city’s problem, the factional violence and ethnic fighting has damaged the local economy terribly, and with it the economy of the country. But for a country that relies so significantly on outside investors, it is unfortunate that only a one-dimensional image is shown of the country, there is much investment happening, and prosperity being created in Karachi, but it is little reported on.

A current example is the recent passing by the Singh Assembly of a bill that will allow for the expanded creation of high-density residential zone where high-rise apartment blocks can be built to accommodate the cities ever-expanding population. Despite a struggling economy, the population of Karachi, since 1980, has grown rapidly with the accent now almost vertical if looked at on a chart.

In June of 2010 Karachi news media reported that the Sindh government was looking into appointing a high-powered board that would examine potential areas of Karachi, and other urban areas in the province, for rezoning as high-density areas.

Such action is needed to ease the burden being brought to bear on the city by a significant inflow of people. Urban poverty will increase along with all the nefarious socio-economic issues associated with it if action is not taken.

As part of this re-zoning a number of substantial construction projects will take place in Karachi. The IT Tower, standing 47 stories high, will be a mixed-use building incorporating office space, residential units and a hotel on the 3 acre site. The Sofitel Karachi, part of an international chain of hotels, is planned for completion in the next few years and will undoubtedly become one of the country’s premier urban resorts.

The most impressive new construction project taking place due to the re-zoning though, is the Port Tower Complex, a mammoth development spanning ten acres and envisioned to consist of a number of man-made islets on the Karachi Waterfront where a number of shopping malls, hotels, residential buildings and the tallest building in Pakistan, the Port Tower, which will also be the tenth tallest building in the world.

The islands that will make up the complex will all be in shapes that will correspond to the symbols found on the flag of Pakistan, namely a crescent and a star. The Port Tower will be built on the crescent and will feature a revolving restaurant and walk around promenade at its top.

The entire project, undertaken by local and international investors in conjunction with one another, is expected to cost in the billions with the Port Tower alone being reported by Karachi news media to cost an estimated $400 to $500 million.

Such a development is surely not indicative of a city at war with itself and gripped by constant chaos and in-fighting? Unfortunately, positive elements of Karachi, such as this, will not be recorded internationally as the ethnic and factional violence is all too often what defines the city overseas.