Editing Karachi (section)

==Geography==

{{Main|Geography of Karachi|Environment of Karachi}}

Karachi is located on the coastline of Sindh province in southern Pakistan, along the [[Karachi Harbour]], a natural harbour on the [[Arabian Sea]]. Karachi is built on a coastal plain with scattered rocky outcroppings, hills and marshlands. [[Mangrove]] forests grow in the brackish waters around the Karachi Harbour (see: [[Chinna Creek]]), and farther southeast towards the expansive [[Indus River Delta]]. West of Karachi city is the [[Cape Monze]], locally known as [[Ras Muari]], which is an area characterised by sea cliffs, rocky sandstone promontories and beaches.

Karachi lies very close to a major fault line, where the [[Indian Plate|Indian tectonic plate]] meets the [[Arabian Plate|Arabian tectonic plate]].<ref>{{cite web |title=KARACHI: Karachi's earthquake history |date=26 October 2005 |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/162899/karachi-karachi-s-earthquake-history |access-date=28 August 2021 |archive-date=15 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815083644/https://www.dawn.com/news/162899/karachi-karachi-s-earthquake-history |url-status=live }}</ref> However, Karachi lies near the western edge of the Indian Plate, on the Indo Gangetic Plain. Within the city of Karachi are two small ranges: the [[Khasa Hills]] and [[Mulri Hills]], which lie in the northwest and act as a barrier between [[North Nazimabad]] and [[Orangi]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=204319&Cat=4&dt=10/18/2009 |title=A story behind every name |date=21 October 2009 |website=The News International, Pakistan |access-date=14 June 2015 |archive-date=7 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151007115813/http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=204319&Cat=4&dt=10%2F18%2F2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Karachi's hills are barren and are part of the larger [[Kirthar Range]], and have a maximum elevation of {{convert|528|m|abbr=off}}.<ref name=IIED>{{cite journal |last1=Hasan |first1=Arif |last2=Pervaiz |first2=Arif |last3=Raza |first3=Mansoor |title=Drivers of climate change vulnerability at different scales in Karachi |journal=IIED Working Paper |date=January 2017 |page=17 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep02723 |access-date=30 March 2024 |publisher=International Institute for Environment and Development |language=en |archive-date=30 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240330092124/https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep02723 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Between the hills are wide coastal plains interspersed with dry river beds and water channels. Karachi has developed around the [[Malir River]] and [[Lyari River]]s, with the Lyari shore being the site of the settlement for ''Kolachi''. To the east of Karachi lies the [[Indus River]] flood plains.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ucl.ac.uk/dpu-projects/Global_Report/pdfs/Karachi.pdf |title=The case of Karachi, Pakistan |publisher=University College London |access-date=1 June 2016 |archive-date=15 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130915074410/http://www.ucl.ac.uk/dpu-projects/Global_Report/pdfs/Karachi.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Climate===

{{Main|Climate of Karachi}}
[[File:Karachi beach panorama.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|The [[Arabian Sea]] influences Karachi's climate, providing the city with more moderate temperatures compared to other areas of [[Sindh]] province.]]
Karachi has a tropical [[semi arid]] climate ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''BSh''), formerly a [[desert climate]], dominated by a long "Summer Season" while moderated by oceanic influence from the [[Arabian Sea]]. The city has annual average precipitation levels (approx. {{cvt|296|mm|0}} per annum), the bulk of which occurs during the late June–September [[monsoon]] season. Summers are hot and humid, and Karachi is prone to deadly heatwaves. Over the past 20 years, rainfall has become more abundant. Tropical storms and thunderstorms, as well as flooding are becoming more common, especially during the summer monsoon.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/jul/22/where-world-hottest-city-kuwait-karachi-ahvaz |title=Where is the world's hottest city? |first=Hayley |last=Birch |date=22 July 2015 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=3 March 2016 |archive-date=9 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209050452/https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/jul/22/where-world-hottest-city-kuwait-karachi-ahvaz |url-status=live }}</ref> On the other hand, cool sea breezes typically provide relief during hot summer months. A text message-based early warning system alerts people to take precautionary measures and helps prevent fatalities during an unusually strong heatwave or thunderstorm.<ref name="heatwave">{{cite news |title=With Early Warning, Karachi Cools a Heat Wave Threat |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/early-warning-pakistan-heat-wave-threat/4115662.html |access-date=1 December 2017 |work=Voice of America |date=14 November 2017 |archive-date=1 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201182102/https://www.voanews.com/a/early-warning-pakistan-heat-wave-threat/4115662.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The winter climate is dry and lasts between December and February. It is dry and pleasant in winter relative to the warm hot season that follows, which starts in March and lasts until October. Proximity to the sea maintains humidity levels at near-constant levels year-round. Thus, the climate is similar to a humid tropical climate, except for the low precipitation and occasional temperatures well over 100 F (38 C) due to the influence of the Thar Desert nearby, close to the border with India.

The city's highest annual rainfall was about 750–850&nbsp;mm, recorded in the late 1970s. The city's highest monthly rainfall, {{cvt|19|in}}, occurred in July 1967.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/27/opinion/pakistan-climate-change.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage |title=Pakistan's Most Terrifying Adversary Is Climate Change |date=27 September 2020 |newspaper=The New York Times |first=Fatima |last=Bhutto |access-date=25 May 2021 |archive-date=8 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210808203852/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/27/opinion/pakistan-climate-change.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="pakmet">{{cite web |url=http://www.pakmet.com.pk/cdpc/extrems/KARACHI.htm |title=Climate data&nbsp;– Karachi |publisher=Pakistan Meteorological Department, Government of Pakistan |access-date=24 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100422011000/http://www.pakmet.com.pk/cdpc/extrems/KARACHI.htm |archive-date=22 April 2010}}</ref> The city's highest rainfall in 24 hours occurred on 7{{nbsp}}August 1953, when about {{convert|278.1|mm|in}} of rain lashed the city, resulting in major flooding.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://beta.dawn.com/news/206412/rain-havoc-in-karachi |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101026221139/http://www.dawn.com/2006/08/18/top2.htm |url-status=dead |title=Rain havoc in Karachi |first=Dawn |last=Report |date=18 August 2006 |archive-date=26 October 2010 |website=DAWN.COM}}</ref>

Karachi's highest recorded temperature is {{cvt|48.0|C}} which was recorded on 22 and 23 April 2017,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pmd.gov.pk/cdpc/extrems/karachi.htm |title=Karachi Extremes |publisher=Pakistan Meteorological Department |location=Pakistan |access-date=1 November 2020 |archive-date=10 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810055653/http://www.pmd.gov.pk/cdpc/extrems/KARACHI.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> and the lowest is {{convert|0|C|F}} recorded on 21 January 1934.<ref name=pakmet />
{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Karachi (1991-2020)
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|Jan record high C = 32.8
|Feb record high C = 36.5
|Mar record high C = 42.5
|Apr record high C = 48.0
|May record high C = 47.8
|Jun record high C = 47.0
|Jul record high C = 42.2
|Aug record high C = 41.7
|Sep record high C = 42.8
|Oct record high C = 43.3
|Nov record high C = 38.5
|Dec record high C = 35.5
|Jan high C = 26.3
|Feb high C = 28.7
|Mar high C = 32.6
|Apr high C = 35.0
|May high C = 35.7
|Jun high C = 35.7
|Jul high C = 33.6
|Aug high C = 32.5
|Sep high C = 33.4
|Oct high C = 35.6
|Nov high C = 32.6
|Dec high C = 28.4
|Jan mean C = 18.9
|Feb mean C = 21.7
|Mar mean C = 25.9
|Apr mean C = 29.4
|May mean C = 31.4
|Jun mean C = 32.2
|Jul mean C = 30.8
|Aug mean C = 29.6
|Sep mean C = 29.7
|Oct mean C = 29.4
|Nov mean C = 25.2
|Dec mean C = 20.9
|Jan low C = 12.0
|Feb low C = 14.8
|Mar low C = 19.4
|Apr low C = 23.7
|May low C = 27.0
|Jun low C = 28.6
|Jul low C = 27.9
|Aug low C = 26.7
|Sep low C = 26.0
|Oct low C = 22.9
|Nov low C = 17.7
|Dec low C = 13.4
|Jan record low C = 0.0
|Feb record low C = 3.3
|Mar record low C = 7.0
|Apr record low C = 12.2
|May record low C = 17.7
|Jun record low C = 22.1
|Jul record low C = 22.2
|Aug record low C = 20.0
|Sep record low C = 18.0
|Oct record low C = 10.0
|Nov record low C = 6.1
|Dec record low C = 1.3
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 10.6
|Feb precipitation mm = 5.5
|Mar precipitation mm = 3.2
|Apr precipitation mm = 11.1
|May precipitation mm = 9.2
|Jun precipitation mm = 24.6
|Jul precipitation mm = 86.1
|Aug precipitation mm = 104.7
|Sep precipitation mm = 44.0
|Oct precipitation mm = 12.7
|Nov precipitation mm = 0.7
|Dec precipitation mm = 5.6
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 1.1
|Feb precipitation days = 0.8
|Mar precipitation days = 0.5
|Apr precipitation days = 0.1
|May precipitation days = 0.1
|Jun precipitation days = 1.7
|Jul precipitation days = 5.4
|Aug precipitation days = 6.1
|Sep precipitation days = 2.4
|Oct precipitation days = 0.4
|Nov precipitation days = 0.2
|Dec precipitation days = 0.6
|Jan humidity=49
|Feb humidity=52
|Mar humidity=56
|Apr humidity=60
|May humidity=65
|Jun humidity=68
|Jul humidity=74
|Aug humidity=75
|Sep humidity=70
|Oct humidity=57
|Nov humidity=51
|Dec humidity=49
|year humidity=
|Jan sun = 269.7
|Feb sun = 251.4
|Mar sun = 272.8
|Apr sun = 276.0
|May sun = 297.6
|Jun sun = 231.0
|Jul sun = 155.0
|Aug sun = 148.8
|Sep sun = 219.0
|Oct sun = 282.1
|Nov sun = 273.0
|Dec sun = 272.8
|Jand sun = 8.7
|Febd sun = 8.8
|Mard sun = 8.8
|Aprd sun = 9.2
|Mayd sun = 9.6
|Jund sun = 7.7
|Juld sun = 5.0
|Augd sun = 4.8
|Sepd sun = 7.3
|Octd sun = 9.1
|Novd sun = 9.1
|Decd sun = 8.8
|Jan percentsun = 81
|Feb percentsun = 79
|Mar percentsun = 73
|Apr percentsun = 72
|May percentsun = 72
|Jun percentsun = 56
|Jul percentsun = 37
|Aug percentsun = 37
|Sep percentsun = 59
|Oct percentsun = 78
|Nov percentsun = 83
|Dec percentsun = 83
|Jan uv=6
|Feb uv=8
|Mar uv=10
|Apr uv=12
|May uv=12
|Jun uv=12
|Jul uv=12
|Aug uv=12
|Sep uv=11
|Oct uv=9
|Nov uv=6
|Dec uv=5
|source 1 =NOAA (sun, 1961-1990),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-2-WMO-Normals-9120/Pakistan/CSV/Karachi_41780.csv |title=Karachi Climate Normals 1991–2020 |work=World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020) |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date=17 September 2023}}</ref> [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]] (humidity, 1966-1990)<ref>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_417800_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von Karachi (Flughafen) / Pakistan
| publisher = Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure
| access-date = September 17, 2016}}</ref>
|source 2 =Weather Atlas,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/pakistan/karachi-climate |title=Weather Atlas |publisher=Weather Atlas |access-date=4 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228202014/https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/pakistan/karachi-climate |archive-date=28 February 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and Karachi Extremes (1931–2018)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pmd.gov.pk/cdpc/extrems/karachi.htm |title=Krachi Extremes |publisher=Pakistan Meteorological Department |access-date=1 November 2020 |archive-date=10 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810055653/http://www.pmd.gov.pk/cdpc/extrems/KARACHI.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ogimet.com/cgi-bin/gsynres?ind=41780&ano=2022&mes=3&day=30&hora=12&min=0&ndays=30 |title=41780: Karachi Airport (Pakistan) |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=29 March 2022 |website=ogimet.com |publisher=OGIMET |access-date=30 March 2022 |quote= |archive-date=4 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204215409/https://www.ogimet.com/cgi-bin/gsynres?ind=41780&ano=2022&mes=3&day=30&hora=12&min=0&ndays=30 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

===Cityscape===
{{Wide image|File:KHIURBANSKYLINE.jpg|700px|Glimpse of [[I. I. Chundrigar Road]], as captured from the southern vantage point overlooking [[Chinna Creek]].}}
The city first developed around the Karachi Harbour, and owes much of its growth to its role as a seaport at the end of the 18th century,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Gayer |first1=Laurent |title=Karachi: Ordered Disorder and the Struggle for the City |date=2014 |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=33}}</ref> contrasted with Pakistan's millennia-old cities such as [[Lahore]], [[Multan]], and [[Peshawar]]. Karachi's [[Mithadar]] neighbourhood represents the extent of ''Kolachi'' prior to British rule.

British Karachi was divided between the "New Town" and the "Old Town", with British investments focused primarily on the New Town.<ref name="Oxford University Press">{{cite book |last1=Gayer |first1=Laurent |title=Karachi: Ordered Disorder and the Struggle for the City |date=2014 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-935444-3}}</ref> The Old Town was a largely unplanned neighbourhood which housed most of the city's indigenous residents and had no access to sewerage systems, electricity, and water.<ref name="Oxford University Press" /> The New Town was subdivided into residential, commercial, and military areas.<ref name="Oxford University Press" /> Given the strategic value of the city, the British developed the [[Karachi Cantonment]] as a military garrison in the New Town to aid the British war effort in the [[First Anglo-Afghan War]].<ref name="Oxford University Press" />
The city's development was largely confined to the area north of the [[Chinna Creek]] prior to independence, although the seaside area of [[Clifton, Karachi|Clifton]] was also developed as a posh locale under the British, and its large bungalows and estates remain some of the city's most desirable properties. The aforementioned historic areas form the oldest portions of Karachi, and contain its most important monuments and government buildings, with the [[I. I. Chundrigar Road]] being home to most of Pakistan's banks, including the Habib Bank Plaza which was Pakistan's tallest building from 1963 until the early 2000s.<ref name="Paracha-2014">{{cite web |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1134284 |title=Visual Karachi: From Paris of Asia, to City of Lights, to Hell on Earth |last1=Paracha |first1=Nadeem F. |author-link1=Nadeem F. Paracha |date=2014-09-26 |website=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309030323/http://www.dawn.com/news/1134284 |archive-date=2016-03-09}}</ref>
Situated on a coastal plain northwest of Karachi's historic core lies the sprawling district of [[Orangi]]. North of the historic core is the largely middle-class district of [[Nazimabad]], and upper-middle-class [[North Nazimabad]], which were developed in the 1950s. To the east of the historic core is the area known as [[Defence Housing Authority, Karachi|Defence]], an expansive upscale suburb developed and administered by the [[Pakistan Army]]. Karachi's coastal plains along the [[Arabian Sea]] south of Clifton were also developed much later as part of the greater Defence Housing Authority project.
Karachi's city limits also include several islands, including [[Baba and Bhit Islands]], Oyster Rocks, and [[Manora, Karachi|Manora]], a former island which is now connected to the mainland by a thin 12-kilometre long [[shoal]] known as [[Sandspit Beach|Sandspit]].<ref name=IIED/> [[Gulistan-e-Johar]], [[Gulshan Town|Gulshan-e-Iqbal]], [[Federal B. Area]], [[Malir]], [[Landhi Town|Landhi]] and [[Korangi Town|Korangi]] areas were all developed after 1970. The city has been described as one divided into sections for those able to afford to live in planned localities with access to urban amenities, and those who live in unplanned communities with inadequate access to such services.<ref name="Askari-2015">{{cite book |editor1-last=Askari |editor1-first=Sabiah |title=Studies on Karachi: Papers Presented at the Karachi Conference 2013 |date=2015 |publisher=Cambridge University Scholars |isbn=978-1-4438-8450-1}}</ref> 35% of Karachi's residents live in unplanned communities.<ref name="Askari-2015" />