General Description Of The District
Malir
1. NAME, LOCATION,
BOUNDARY AND AREA
The district derives
its name from its headquarter town
Malir. The word Malir denotes basically
a region of pastoral wealth, a patch
of rich and fertile plain or meadow
in Rajasthani, Saraiki and Sindhi.
The district lies
between 24˚45' to 25˚ 37'
north latitudes and 67˚ 06' to
67˚ 34' east longitudes and is
bounded on the north by Dadu district,
on the south by Thatta district and
Arabian sea, on the east by Dadu and
Thatta districts and on the west by
Karachi south, Karachi Central, Karachi
East, Karachi west and Lasbala district
of Balochistan province.
The total area of
the district is 2268 square kilometers.
2. PHYSICAL FEATURES/TOPOGRAPHY
Malir district has
a variegated topography, ranging in
height from below the datum level
in south along the tidal swamps and
mud flats of Ibrahim Hyderi and Bin
Qasim coastal strips to the maximum
of 525 meters above the mean sea level
at Mol escarpment in Sindh Kohistan.
Topographically the
area can be divided into five different
broad zones.
i) The ridge and runnel
upland in Sindh Kohistan
ii) The piedmont colluvial fans and
peneplains of Gadap
iii) The plains of Moidan and
Gadap
iv) The plains and plateaus of Malir-Lyari
interfluous
v) The plains and hills of the coastal
belt.
i) The ridge and runnel
upland in Sindh Kohistan is the sector
of rugged topography in the north
of Malir district that is spread over
the width of an offshoot branch of
Kirthar range. These distal hill forks
out of the kirthar range separating
Dadu district and Khuzdar district
in Baluchistan. The two ranges separate
south from mountain knot of Gorag
where altitude is 2126 meters. The
main Kirthar range goes to South and
merges into the Indus Plain near Amri,
while the off shoot range pursues
a south west course, gradually diminishing
in height towards Gadap plain.
ii) In regimen of
fluvial erosion, the colluvial fringe
develops by merging of alluvial fans
of individual streams depositing the
erosional load of coarse sediments
at the foot of hillsides. The deposits
combined with material brought by
sheet wash from hillsides remains
mostly unconsolidated, and under the
process of weathering develop into
good fertile soil where water is available.
In dry or semi-arid conditions this
shelving deposit of unconsolidated
material often creates badland topography
of deeply scarred earth, unsuitable
both for cultivation and habitation.
Covered by sparse thorny shrubs, these
however, serve as grazing grounds
for goat and sheep.
iii) Down from the
colluvial fans in the small drainage
basins of various streams are patches
of alluvial plains of varying sizes
and irregular shapes, separated or
partly divided by extensions of the
spurs of ridges. In the ridge and
runnel sector of the District in the
north, the most notable plain is that
of Moidan, spreading from the western
flanks of Mehar Jabal to the left
bank of Hub River. The plain gets
narrower southward, pressed by the
colluvial fans descending westward
from Mari Gathi, and merges with narrower
strips of shang and Khar Nala up to
the valley of Mandiaro.
iv) In the upper reaches
the two main effluents of Malir are
Khadeji Nadi and Mol Nadi, which have
their catchments basins in Sindh Kohistan
in a synclinal fold between the main
Kirthar range and its off shoot branches.
vi) The southern
stretch of Malir district follows
the coastal strip of Korangi and Gharo
creeks, demarcating the northern side
of the old Indus delta. An area to
south of the east-west base line of
triangular outline of Karachi division
subsided and was covered by the sea,
making a shallow basin. In course
of time the deltaic deposits of the
Indus filled up this shallow basin,
whereas the up throw part to the north
of the fault line made a coastal edge.
3. RIVERS AND STREAMS
Malir river, ephemeral
in nature, flows in the district.
This river is constituted from two
major tributaries, Mol and Khadeji
and smaller tributaries of Konkar,
Thaddo and sukkhan.
Khadeji is perennial
river in its upper reaches. The water
of Khadeji Falls percolates into the
sedimentary rocks after going some
distance and it replenishes within
Malir basin in the southern down stream.
Some amount of water flows throughout
the year inside the downward basin
of Khadeji River.
4. CLIMATE
The district being
little away from the sea is climatically
somewhat different from other parts
of Karachi division. The district
suffers a long hot season, which starts
from March and continues till October.
The summer season is not too hot due
to influence of sea breeze but in
May and June due to low pressure in
the interior Sindh the north-east
winds increase the temperature and
it soars up to 43˚C or even higher.
By the end of June monsoon winds from
Arabian Sea moves towards low-pressure
region. These winds carry water moisture
in abundance, which in a shape of
clouds, passes through the district
reducing the temperature considerably.
Winters start from
November and continue till February.
During winter the temperature remains
up to 15˚C. The Northern wind
blows in this period, which reduces
the temperature further.
There is no particular
period of rain. For some years there
is no rain. Maximum rainfall is in
July. The average rainfall is 217
mm. On average the weather of the
district is moderate.
5. FLORA
The geological and
archeological evidence suggests that
this region, during 500 BC, was fairly
humid and carried a tropical forest.
As a result of geographical changes,
however, the zone is now an arid one
and the dominant vegetation within
the Malir district is composed of
open communities of deciduous, xerophytic
trees and shrubs.
In the alluvial plains
and calcareous hilly area of the district
25 species of plains are found. Most
of the species are of minor importance
and only few of them are dominant
and wide spread. These are prosopis
juliflora, prosopis cineraia, acacia
nelotica and euphorbia triucalli.
6. FAUNA
In near past, deer
(gazella benetti) wolf (canis lupus
pellipes), jackals (canis aureus)
and fox (vulpes bengalenis) were found
in abundance. Now days these wild
animals can be seen only in the center
of wild life development.
Among birds Indian
Grey partridge, chest-nut-bellied
sand grouse, rock dove, Indian little
button guail and Eurasian roller are
found in Malir District.
7. HISTORY, ETHNICITY/TRIBES
AND CULTURE
7.1. History
The history of the
district can be viewed in association
with Karachi as a whole. Karachi has
been variously called Karakola. Kolachi,
Khoraji, Korangi etc. But its existence
in terms of location, condition and
name remains controversial. According
to Dr. William Viscent in his book
"The Commerce of Ancients in
the Indian Ocean", it was called
Karakola, when Alexander, the great
stayed here. According to James Rennel
when Niarx stayed here it was an island
and he was impressed with it and named
after his emperor "Sikandari
Janat" Around 1558, Karachi was
a conglomerate of about two- dozen
fishing villages called Kalachi or
Kalati. The settlement was projected
into prominence when Seth Bhoju Mal
Laid the foundation of a small township
on the left bank of Lyari river in
1729. This town appears to have attained
little importance under either the
native dynasties or the Mughal administration.
Its rise into notice began with the
period of Talpur Mirs, in succession
to the Kalhora, who had usurped power
on the break up of the Mughal Empire.
They were the first to recognize the
value of the harbor for commerce and
in 1792 recovered Karachi from the
Khan of Kalat. The settlement expanded
rapidly. It was already of significance
when the British captured Karachi
in 1839. The British annexed Karachi,
in 1842, as part of the Province of
Sindh. Then Karachi became an army
headquarters for the British as well
as developing into a principal port
for the Indus River region.
After World War-1,
manufacturing and service industries
were installed. By 1924, an aerodrome
had been built and Karachi became
the main airport of entry into India.
The city became provincial capital
of Sindh in 1936.
Malir to an extent
is considered to have a part history
of its own. In recent past some archaeological
sites were discovered. The analysis
of archaeological studies made thereof
from the tools, utensils, and ornaments
etc. classified it of stone- age and
Indus Valley civilizations. These
studies, however, are not of much
value as their chronological order
of civilization is undetermined.
Prominence of Malir
came into existence in 1856 when scheme
for supplying of water to Karachi
was developed and Captain D. Leezay
discovered the source of water in
dry belt of Malir River at Dumlotee.
With the creation
of Pakistan in 1947, Karachi not only
became the capital and premier port
of new country but also a center of
business and administration. This
had added the value to the burgeoning
nation who suffered an increase in
population as a result of mass exodus
of immigrants from India. The Government
decided to settle the refugees in
Malir and its surrounding areas. After
then the area gradually developed
until November 1993 when the areas
comprising now of Malir district were
separated from Karachi East district
and the Malir district was notified.
7.2. Ethnicity/tribes
Different tribes are
settled in the district, majority
of who are Muslim. Among Sindhis the
tribes settled here are Syed, Jokhia,
Khaskheli, Palri, Bareja, Bhabra,
Dhars, Sirhindi Jamot and Mohannas.
These tribes are landowners keep herds
and do fishing.
Among the Baloch,
the tribes resides in the district
are Kulmati, Jadgal, Gorgej, Hoot,
Vadela, Vashki, Zarzedagh, Tumpi,
Lashari, Laghri, Khosa, Rindh, Brohi,
Harani. Characteristically, these
people are hard working and hospitable.
The previously mentioned tribes are
engaged in land, service and business.
Among the Memons are
Modaani, Chitrani, Bolani and Hamlani.
The new settlers are from India and
have settled in this district after
1947. After the downfall of Dhaka,
the inhabitants from former East Pakistan
migrated to this district.
Business and Industry
allured a large number of persons
from the rest of the country. The
majority among them are the Punjabis
and the Pathans. A small proportion
of the Bengalis, the Burmese and the
Meghwars are also settled in this
district.
A small minority,
which consists of Christians and Hindus,
resides in Malir District.
7.3. Culture,
Custom And Traditions
The population of
the district is heterogeneous follows
a kaleidoscopic pattern, which has
developed a mosaic culture. Apart
from the ceremonies like births and
death, which are followed as ritual
and social duties, the shagging pattern
of social economy and behavioral attitude
of the persons, have diminished the
values of the culture and traditions.
It is common nearly
to all class of people to visit shrines
of saints, which are many in the district.
These visits are even more pronounced
at the time of trouble and misfortune,
which reflects their faith upon them.
Depending on which sect one belongs
to determines whether or not they
visit shrines or how much they revere
the saints.
The youths are growing
up with healthy appetite for active
games. The playing of team games and
regular courses in physical exercise
is now part of the curriculum of the
schools. Cricket, hockey and football
are now becoming conspicuous features
in urban and rural areas. In rural
areas the indigenous games like cock-and-dog-fighting
are favorite.
7.4. Food
The staple food of
the people in the district is wheat
and rice. Wheat is taken in the form
of unleavened cakes made savory with
vegetables, meat or fish. Rice is
boiled and eaten with same similar
accompaniment or made into pulao or
biryani. A class of people prefers
rich and relish food as Shami Kabob,
Seekh Kabab, Chicken Tikka, Haleem,
and Nihari etc. Those who can afford
them consume fruits as a part of their
diet.
Tea is common among
all class of people. Among sweetmeats,
Karachi Halwa, Sohan Halwa and Habshi
Halwa are the delicacies consumed
by the people preferably on special
ceremonies.
7.5. Dress and
Ornaments
The most common and
generally used dress is Shalwar and
a long shirt. However on festivals
and special occasions this dress is
of higher quality and is accompanied
by waistcoat or sherwani and a Jinnah
Cap. The western dress trouser and
shirt is also common among educated
persons, students, and working class
people in the office.
The ladies-wear is
also shalwar and long shirt but of
bright and fancy color along with
a headscarf. Ladies from eastern and
southern India prefer Sari, which
becomes a sophisticated dress. The
women on special ceremonies also wear
Gharara and Sari.
Formal ornaments,
though indispensable to women, are
either out of fashion or their uses
are restricted to special ceremonies
in this district. Thus, Jhoomer, Tika,
nose-ring and necklace are generally
worn in marriage ceremonies. Anklets
and toe-rings have gone out of fashion
for the women in Malir. Generally
women wear bangles, finger-ring, a
golden chain in their neck and earring
of different sizes, color and design.
Special attention, however, is given
to match the color of bangles in harmony
with the color of their dress.
7.6. Dwelling
The new dwelling of
the district is generally made of
reinforced cement and concrete (RCC)
The architecture of
the old city is marked by decorated
houses with deep wide verandas. These
houses are constructed from stone
blocks and are double storied. In
some of the buildings wooden and iron
bars are also used. The front of the
houses are covered with latticed screens.
In rural areas there is a marked shift
in construction of the houses from
mud and shrubs to (RCC).
7.7. Occupation
Malir is an industrial
and commercial city having multi-occupations.
The main occupation of the people
is business and trade. The other major
portion of the population consists
of labor class including skilled and
unskilled labor. The remaining small
portion of the population is having
different occupation including government
and private services as well as agriculture.
The women also assist their men in
the economic activity in different
fields of business, service, education
and other institutions. Women mostly
serve in schools, colleges and hospitals.
7.8. Betrothal
and marriages
Marriages in most
families are still arranged by parents.
The betrothal ceremony is called Mangni.
It is formal engagement of a boy and
girl. The betrothal ceremony is the
declaration of engagement on the part
of the two parties. Usually, the relatives
and friends from both sides assemble
at the bride's house and terms and
conditions of marriage are settled.
Bride's parents present the betrothal
ring to the bridegroom in the presence
of guests.
The custom amongst
some families of playing drum and
Shennai at least a week before the
marriage is universal. The bride becomes
the center of every body's attention,
when four to five days before the
marriage women from the bridegroom's
house go the house and make her sit
in seclusion. The ceremony is called
Manja or Manwah. None is allowed to
visit the bride during these days
except the close female relatives
of the bride. Two days before the
marriage the Mehndi ceremony is performed
at the bridegroom's house. The women
of the bridegroom's house apply Mehndi
on the hands of the bride. On the
marriage day the bridegroom is taken
in procession on a car accompanied
by relatives, guests and friends.
The procession terminates at the door
of the bride's house. The Moulvi or
Mullah, who recites Nikah, then solemnizes
the marriage. The amount of mehr,
the dower money is fixed and is made
known to the wedding party. Dry dates
and sweets are distributed and the
marriage feast is served. The bride
generally leaves her father's house
with the bridegroom after Nikah. The
bridegroom gives a feast called Valima
at his residence usually on the following
day.
8. IMPORTANT/HISTORICAL
PLACES
8.1. Malir City
Malir, the district
headquarters, is situated some twenty
kilometers from the heart of Karachi
City. This town is famous for its
vegetable gardens and fruits orchards.
A large number of sweet water wells
feed these gardens. With the increase
in industrial growth Malir has developed
into a commercial and industrial center.
8.2. Pakistan Steel
Mills
Pakistan Steel Mills
is the country's largest industrial
unit having the production capacity
of 1.1 million tones of steel.
The foundation stone
of this vital and gigantic project
was laid by the then Prime Minister
in December 30, 1973. It was built
with a cost of Rs. 14,000 million
including Rs. 7,000 million of foreign
exchange.
The mill is spread
over an area of 18,660 acres including
10,390 acres for the main plant, 8,070
acres for 110-MG water reservoir.
The mill provides
employment to more than 21,000 persons
on regular basis whereas about 3,000
daily wageworkers and retainers are
engaged on piece job basis including
capital repair and emergency work.
8.3. Chowkandi
Tombs
Located on the National
Highway, about 8 kilometers from Malir
City, Chowkandi tombs are situated.
It comprises of innumerable sand graves
with strangely carved motifs, dating
from an early Muslim period in Sindh.
8.4. Karachi Airport
Karachi airport is
the gateway to the east. It was built
in 1924 when aviation was in its infancy.
In 1928, it became the port of entry
into India for the Imperial Airways.
At the time of Independence this was
the only Airport in good shape and
it met the national and international
requirement at that time. During the
last 26 years, it has fully equipped
Flight Information Center, Area Control
Center, Radar Approach Control and
Air Traffic Control Tower providing
for the operation of aircraft
t
in the air, efficient conduct of flights
and maintaining an orderly crew of
air traffic. Karachi Airport also
has a big fire fighting fleet manned
by trained personnel with ambulances
and fire jeeps to meet any emergency.
The Pakistan International Airlines
(PIA) Head Office and engineering
base is situated at the airport terminal.
The PIA has undertaken a major renovation
project at Karachi Airport to meet
its daily expanding requirements of
the supersonic jet era.
In order to facilitate
the passengers further the Civil Aviation
Authority has constructed a new building-The
Jinnah Terminal. Due to its sheer
size and its function as the gateway
into Pakistan, it merits a unique
and lasting position both as project
in totality and as an architectural
landmark.
The Jinnah Terminal
is a multi level facility with two
satellites; each has eight aircraft
parking around it and is connected
to the terminal building by a link
corridor. There are 46 airline check-in
counters for international passengers
and 30 counters for domestic use.
The building can handle over 8 million
passengers annually, including all
domestic and international traffic.
9. POPULATION
SIZE, GROWTH AND DISTRIBUTION
9.1. Population
Size and Growth
The population of
Malir district is 981.41 thousands
in 1998 as compared to 429.57 thousands
in 1981 recording an increase of 128.46
percent over the last 17 years i.e.
during 1981-98.
The average annual
growth rate of population during 1981-98
is 4.98 percent. If the population
continues to grow at its present rate
i.e. 4.98 percent per annum, it will
double in about every 14 years.
The area of district
is 2268 square kilometers yielding
a population density of 432.7 in 1998.
9.2. Household
Size
Average household
size of the district is 6.2 in 1998.
If we compare rural/urban areas the
household size is 5.6 in rural and
6.8 in urban areas.
9.3. Rural/Urban
Distribution
The rural population
of the district is 321.00 thousands
constituting 32.70 percent of the
total population in the district.
The average annual growth rate of
rural population during 1981-1998
is 3.80 percent.
The urban population
of the district is 660.00 thousands
which constitutes 67.30 percent of
its total population. There are four
urban locations in the district of
which District Municipal Corporation,
Malir has a population of 447.00 thousands
followed by Gujro Town Committee with
134.54 thousands.
9.4. Religion
The population of
the district is predominantly Muslim
who constitutes 96.57 percent of the
total population and 96.51 percent
in urban area. Among the minorities
percentage of Christians is 2.08,
all remaining minorities, which are
1.35 percent. Most of the Christians
are settled in urban areas.
Table: Percentage
of Population by Religion
| Religion |
Population
by religion (%age) |
| Muslim |
96.57 |
| Christian |
2.08 |
| Hindu
(Jati) |
1.10 |
| Qadyani
(Ahmadi) |
0.18 |
| Scheduled
Caste |
0.03 |
| Others |
0.04 |
9.5. Mother
Tongue
25.08 percent of
the total population in the district,
followed by Pushto and Punjabi sharing
20.67 and 17.46 percent speaks Sindhi
as mother tongue respectively. Urdu,
Balochi and Saraiki are spoken by
only 15.87, 8.51 and 2.36 percent
of the population.
10.
LITERACY AND EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
10.1. Literacy
In the 1998 census
Literacy was defined as the “ability
of a person to read a news paper or
write a simple letter in any language”.
The Literacy is also measured in terms
of literacy ratio and computed as
percentage of literate persons among
the population aged 10 years and above.
The literacy ratio
of the district is 53.56 percent.
The male literacy ratio is higher
at 61.44 percent as compared to 42.87
percent for females. There are sharp
differences in the literacy ratios
by sex and areas. The ratio in urban
areas is 55.65 as compared to 49.16
percent in rural areas. In rural areas
male literacy is 58.57 percent as
compared to female literacy ratio,
which is at 38.05 percent. In urban
areas it is 62.69 for males in comparison
to females at 45.43.
10.2. Educational
Attainment
The percentage of
educated persons is 52.92 of the population
aged 10 years and above, including
those below primary. The remaining
47.08 percent either have attained
no educational level or never attended
any educational institution.
A large variation
exists in the ratios of educated persons
in rural and urban areas as well as
for males and females. The percentage
of males is 60.87 and for females
42.13. It is 48.26 for rural against
55.12 for urban areas.
HDF RELATED
INFORMATION
Karachi Kachi Abadi
is a unique region, which is like
a village surrounded by a metropolitan
city. The Region was established in
June 2001. The Region was started
with one HDF unit (1,000 households).
The project area covers three villages
e.g. Adam Hungoro Goth, Muslimabad,
and Balil Colony. All these villages
are situated in Malir District of
Karachi and seemed to be the most
neglected out of all the Katchi Abadis
of Karachi. Most of the inhabitants
have migrated here from Ran of Katch
and belong to Katchi tribe. There
are also Punjabis, Pathans and Balochis
living in the Region.
Most of the women
of the area work in the big houses
of the nearby posh area. They leave
their homes for work in the morning
and come back in the evening.
In the program area
there is just one middle School, in
which two shifts are operated. Females
are deprived from the schooling facility
altogether. There are some English
Medium Schools as well, but the people
of the area cannot afford the high
expenses of such schools.
In the Katchi Abadi,
the houses are very small. Average
population/household is eight. The
targeted area has poor sewerage system
and streets are also un-paved. The
community of the area has been exploited
and terrified in the past by some
individuals/organizations.
When HDF started baseline
survey in Kachi Abadi, the people
were reluctant and scared to provide
the required information due to their
bad experience in the past. The courteous
and polite behavior and strong determination
of HDF staff led to a situation where
the community built its trust and
confidence, and not only provided
relevant information but also agreed
to work with HDF in the implementation
of the HDF interventions.
HDF hopes that from
the KKA model, a learning process
has been started that will, in the
long run, enable the staff to efficiently
operate its programs in urban areas.
Major Achievements:
July 2001- May 2003
The progress of the Karachi Kachi Abadi
Region was as follow:
