Karachi is the capital city of the Sindh province of Pakistan. It is the largest city in Pakistan and the 12th largest in the world, with a population of over 20 million. Karachi has a collection of buildings and structures of varied architectural styles. The downtown districts of Saddar and Clifton contain early 20th-century architecture, ranging in style from the neo-classical KPT building to the Sindh High Court Building. Karachi acquired its first neo-Gothic or Indo-Gothic buildings when Frere Hall, Empress Market and St. Patrick's Cathedral were completed. The Mock Tudor architectural style was introduced in the Karachi Gymkhana and the Boat Club. Neo-Renaissance architecture was popular in the 19th century and was the architectural style for St. Joseph's Convent (1870) and the Sind Club (1883). [1] The classical style made a comeback in the late 19th century, as seen in Lady Dufferin Hospital (1898) [2] and the Cantt. Railway Station.
While Italianate buildings remained popular, an eclectic blend termed Indo-Saracenic or Anglo-Mughal began to emerge in some locations. [3] The local mercantile community began acquiring impressive structures. Zaibunnisa Street in the Saddar area (known as Elphinstone Street in British days) is an example where the mercantile groups adopted the Italianate and Indo-Saracenic style to demonstrate their familiarity with Western culture and their own. The Hindu Gymkhana (1925) and Mohatta Palace are examples of Mughal revival buildings. [4] The Sindh Wildlife Conservation Building, located in Saddar, served as a Freemasonic Lodge until it was taken over by the government. There are talks of it being taken away from this custody and being renovated and the Lodge being preserved with its original woodwork and ornate wooden staircase. [5]
Architecturally distinctive, even eccentric, buildings have sprung up throughout Karachi. Notable example of contemporary architecture include the Pakistan State Oil Headquarters building. The city has examples of modern Islamic architecture, including the Aga Khan University hospital, Grand Jamia Mosque, Masjid e Tooba, Faran Mosque, Baitul Mukarram Mosque, Quaid's Mausoleum, and the Textile Institute of Pakistan. One of the unique cultural elements of Karachi is that the residences, which are two- or three-story townhouses, are built with the front yard protected by a high brick wall. I. I. Chundrigar Road features a range of tall buildings. The most prominent examples include the Habib Bank Plaza, UBL Tower, PRC Towers, PNSC Building and MCB Tower. [6]
Many of Pakistan's tallest buildings are located in Karachi. Newer skyscrapers are being built in Clifton. At least 50 150m+ buildings were underconstruction in 2022.
This is a list of the tallest buildings in Karachi.
Building | Height | Floors | Year | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bahria Icon Tower | 273 m (896 ft) [7] [8] | 68 | 2021 | Clifton | Pakistan's tallest skyscraper |
Bahria Hotel Tower | 230 m (755 ft) [9] [10] | 45 | 2021 | Clifton | |
Chapal Skymark | 210 m (689 ft) | 50 | 2020 | Civil Lines | |
Emaar Panorama [11] | 200 m (656 ft) | 50 | 2024 | Crescent Bay | |
Emaar The Views | 200 m (656 ft) | 45 | 2024 | Crescent Bay | |
Dolmen Hotel Tower 3 | 175 m (574 ft) [12] | 42 | 2019 | Clifton | |
Dolmen Sky Tower 4 | 174.5 m (573 ft) [12] | 42 | 2019 | Clifton | |
Hoshang Pearl [13] | 160 m (525 ft) [14] | 35 [14] | 2018 | Civil Line | |
KASB Altitude | 150 m (492 ft) [14] | 38 [14] | 2017 | Clifton | |
Bakht Tower | 145 m (476 ft) [14] | 38 [14] | 2017 | Clifton | |
G.M Seaside Residency | 143 m (469 ft) | 34 | 2024 | Clifton | |
Arkadians Tower A [15] | 140 m (459 ft) | 35 [16] [17] | 2017 | Defence VIII | |
Luckyone Tower 1 | 138 m (453 ft)[ citation needed ] | 42 | 2019 | F.B Area | |
Luckyone Tower 2 | 138 m (453 ft)[ citation needed ] | 42 | 2019 | F.B Area | |
Luckyone Tower 3 | 138 m (453 ft)[ citation needed ] | 42 | 2024 | F.B Area | |
Luckyone Tower 4 | 138 m (453 ft)[ citation needed ] | 42 | 2024 | F.B Area | |
Grove Residency tower A [18] | 136 m (446 ft) | 36 | 2024 | DHA | |
Marina View Tower [19] | 140 m (459 ft)[ citation needed ] | 36 | 2022 | Boat Basin | |
Creek Marina Tower 4 | 130 m (427 ft)[ citation needed ] | 32 | 2022 | DHA VIII | |
Metro twin tower 1 | 130 m (427 ft)[ citation needed ] | 32*2 | 2018 | Clifton | |
Metro twin tower 2 | 130 m (427 ft)[ citation needed ] | 32*2 | 2018 | Clifton | |
Com-3 Tower 1 [21] | 124 m (407 ft) | 34 [22] | 2018 | Clifton | |
Com-3 Tower 2 [21] | 124 m (407 ft) | 32 [22] | 2018 | Clifton | |
Ocean Towers | 120 m (394 ft) [23] | 30 [23] | 2013 | Clifton | Tallest in Pakistan, 2012–2014 |
Mega G4 Tower [24] | 118 m (387 ft) [25] | 30 | 2016 | Clifton | First LEED-certified building in Pakistan |
Centre Point Tower | 117 m (384 ft) [26] | 29 [26] | 2013 | Defence VI | |
MCB Tower | 116 m (381 ft) | 29 [27] | 2005 | Downtown | Tallest in Pakistan, 2005–2012 [27] |
70 Riviera | 110 m (361 ft) [28] | 32 [26] | 2017 | Clifton | |
Signature 27 | 110 m (361 ft) | 28 | 2022 | DHA | |
MPA Hostel Tower | 109 m (358 ft) [28] | 31 [26] | 2019 | Saddar | |
Pearl Tower 1 [29] | 109 m (358 ft) | 30 [30] | 2019 | Crescent Bay | |
Pearl Tower 2 [29] | 109 m (358 ft) | 30 [30] | 2019 | Crescent Bay | |
Reef Tower 1 [29] | 108 m (354 ft) | 30 [30] | 2019 | Crescent Bay | |
Reef Tower 2 [29] | 108 m (354 ft) | 30 [30] | 2019 | Crescent Bay | |
Reef Tower 3 [29] | 108 m (354 ft) | 30 [30] | 2019 | Crescent Bay | |
Coral Tower 1 [29] | 107 m (351 ft) | 28 [30] | 2018 | Crescent Bay | |
Coral Tower 2 [29] | 107 m (351 ft) | 28 [30] | 2016 | Crescent Bay | |
A.Q Residency Tower 1 [31] | 104 m (341 ft) | 30 | 2022 | Bahria Town | |
A.Q Residency Tower 2 [31] | 104 m (341 ft) | 30 | 2022 | Bahria Town | |
A.Q Residency Tower 3 [31] | 104 m (341 ft) | 30 | 2022 | Bahria Town | |
Habib Bank Plaza [32] | 102 m (335 ft)[ citation needed ] | 24 | 1963 | Downtown | Tallest in Asia, 1963–1970 and tallest in Pakistan, 1963-2005 |
Marine View Tower | 103 m (338 ft) | 26 | 2019 | Boat Basin | |
Bahria town Tower | 102 m (335 ft) | 26 | 2016 | Tariq Road | |
Creek View Tower | 102 m (335 ft) | 25 | 2021 | Clifton | |
UBL Tower [33] | 101 m (331 ft) | 25 | 2016 | Downtown | |
Royal 8 Icon Tower 1 | 100 m (328 ft) | 30 | 2009 | Gulshan 13-D | |
Arkadians tower B [15] | 100 m (328 ft) | 25 | 2018 | DHA VIII | |
The Fusion | 100 m (328 ft) | 25 | 2022 | Clifton | |
Greens Three [34] | 100 m (328 ft) | 25 | 2024 | Clifton | |
Country 8 | 100 m (328 ft) | 25 | 2021 | Clifton | |
Sumya Sky View | 100 m (328 ft) | 23 | 2022 | Civil Lines | |
Mont Vista [35] | 100 m (328 ft) | 26 | 2019 | N.Nazimabad | |
The Center (JS Tower) [36] | 100 m (328 ft) | 30 | 2016 | SADDAR | |
CFTC Tower | 100 m (328 ft) | 23 | 2018 | Clifton | |
Country 8 | 100 m (328 ft) | 22 | 2020 | Clifton B-8 | |
Royal Tower 1 | 100 m (328 ft) | 22 | 2017 | DHA | |
Royal Tower 2 | 100 m (328 ft) | 22 | 2017 | DHA | |
La Grande | 100 m (328 ft) | 23 | 2017 | N.Nazimabad | |
BRR Tower | 100 m (328 ft) | 22 | 2014 | Downtown | |
Tai Roshan Residency | 100 m (328 ft) | 22 | 2018 | P.E.C.H.S | |
ASF TOWERS 1 | 100 m (328 ft) | 22 | 2022 | SCHEME 33 | |
ASF TOWERS 2 | 100 m (328 ft) | 22 | 2022 | SCHEME 33 | |
ASF TOWERS 3 | 100 m (328 ft) | 22 | 2022 | SCHEME 33 | |
ACM Tower | 100 m (328 ft) | 22 | 2018 | Clifton | |
Parsa Citi towers | 100 m (328 ft) | 22 | 2016 | SADDAR | |
SumSum Grand Residency | 100 m (328 ft) | 22 | 2018 | P.E.C.H.S | |
Lords Vista 1 | 100 m (328 ft) | 22 | 2022 | SUPARCO Road | |
Lords Vista 2 | 100 m (328 ft) | 22 | 2022 | SUPARCO Road | |
Lords Vista 3 | 100 m (328 ft) | 21 | 2022 | SUPARCO Road | |
Avari tower | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 1970 | SADDAR | |
Balad trade tower II | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2022 | CLIFTON | |
Navy Heights 1 | 90 m (295 ft) | 22 | 2022 | Cantt. | |
Navy Heights 2 | 90 m (295 ft) | 22 | 2022 | Cantt. | |
Saima Trade Towers | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 1999 | Downtown | |
Saima Trade Towers | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 1999 | Downtown | |
Mega Comfort | 90 m (295 ft) | 21 | 2021 | Clifton B-8 | |
Vincy Residency | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2012 | Clifton | |
Royal Empire | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2018 | P.E.C.H.S | |
Eman Blessing | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2018 | P.E.C.H.S | |
Saima Excellency Tower 1 | 90 m (295 ft) | 22 | 2022 | Gulshan | |
Saima Excellency Tower 2 | 90 m (295 ft) | 22 | 2022 | Gulshan | |
Burj ul Jannat | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2022 | SADDAR | |
AA Towers | 90 m (295 ft) | 21 | 2019 | P.E.C.H.S | |
Zamzam tower | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2018 | P.E.C.H.S | |
Artistic Tower | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2019 | Shr. Faisal | |
Saima pari Glorious | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2018 | P.E.C.H.S | |
King's Tower | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2018 | Johar B-15 | |
Paradise Tower | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2018 | CLifton | |
Greens two | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2018 | P.E.C.H.S | |
King's Luxury tower | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2018 | P.E.C.H.S | |
Halima Residency | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2018 | P.E.C.H.S | |
Sawera Sky tower | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2018 | P.E.C.H.S | |
Family Heaven | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2018 | P.E.C.H.S | |
The Residence | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2015 | Clifton | |
Zulekha Heights | 90 m (295 ft) | 21 | 2019 | P.E.C.H.S | |
Saima Comforts | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2018 | KBWR | |
Majestic tower | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2016 | Clifton | |
The Address | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2019 | Clifton | |
Dilkusha Gohar Residency | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2018 | Tariq Road | |
Parsa Citi Luxuria | 90 m (295 ft) | 21 | 2018 | P.E.C.H.S | |
Lakhani Presidency | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2008 | Gulshan | |
Defence Skyline | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2018 | DHA | |
Ceasar Tower | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 1980 | SHR Faisal | |
Sea Breeze Plaza | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 1980 | SHR Faisal | |
Pearl Residency | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2004 | Gulshan | |
Saima Royal Residency | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2018 | Gulshan | |
Noman Residencia | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2018 | Scheme 33 | |
Al Ghafoor tower | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2016 | Gulshan | |
Makkah City Tower | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2019 | PECHS | |
Bismillah Blessing | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2014 | PECHS | |
Clifton Comforts | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2019 | Clifton Bl-9 | |
Makkah Tower | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2015 | PECHS | |
Anum Vista | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2016 | N.Nazimabad | |
G.M Tower | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2017 | P.E.C.H.S | |
Falak City Tower | 90 m (295 ft) | 22 | 2017 | Downtown | |
Saima Paari Point | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2016 | N.Nazimabad | |
Euro hitec tower | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2016 | N.Nazimabad | |
Euro Regency park | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2016 | N.Nazimabad | |
Bakhsi tower | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2016 | Shr. Faisal | |
Nobel Tower | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2019 | P.E.C.H.S | |
Muhammadi Trade Tower | 90 m (295 ft) | 21 | 2015 | Downtown | |
Roshan Towers | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2021 | P.E.C.H.S | |
Dulara Empire | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2020 | P.E.C.H.S | |
Laiba Tower | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2019 | P.E.C.H.S | |
Amin Residency | 90 m (295 ft) | 20 | 2018 | P.E.C.H.S |
Building | Height | Floors | Location | Year of completion |
---|---|---|---|---|
Port Tower Complex | 593 m (1,946 ft) | 130 | Karachi Port Trust | ? |
KPT | 352 m (1,155 ft) | 88 | Karachi Port Trust | 2024 |
Emaar Iconic Tower | 340 m (1,115 ft) | 65 | Crescent Bay | 2025 |
FWO Tower | 340 m (1,115 ft) | 65 | DHA CITY | 2025 |
Sky Gardens [37] | 230 m (755 ft) | 53 | Clifton | 2020 |
The Palmyra Air Tower 1 | 200 m (656 ft) | 50 | Do Talwar Clifton | 2020 |
The Palmyra Air Tower 2 | 200 m (656 ft) | 50 | Do Talwar Clifton | 2020 |
Emaar Panorama | 200 m (656 ft) | 45 | Crescent Bay | 2024 |
HSJ Icon | 155 m (509 ft) | 50 | Saddar | 2020 |
Parsa Citi Club Towers | 150 m (492 ft) | 45 | Clifton | 2024 |
Zamzam Twin Towers | 150 m (492 ft) | 45 | Clifton | 2024 |
One Hoshang (HKC TOWERS) | 150 m (492 ft) | 37 | Civil Line | 2025 |
5 Sky towers | 150 m (492 ft) | 50 | Clifton | 2024 |
H1 Tower | 150 m (492 ft) | 40 | Crescent Bay | 2024 |
Saima Waterfront | 150 m (492 ft) | 40 | Crescent Bay | 2024 |
DCK Tower one | 200 m (656 ft) | 45 | DHA City | 2024 |
Metro Marina | 200 m (656 ft) | 42 | Clifton | 2024 |
The Palm | 180 m (591 ft) | 42 | Marine Promenade | 2019 |
T & A Craft Residency | 160 m (525 ft) | 45fl x 2 | Marine Promenade | 2025 |
Silk Bank Tower | 160 m (525 ft) | 38 | Downtown | 2023 |
Clifton Icon | 150 m (492 ft) | 46 | Clifton | 2023 |
Metro Beach Front | 150 m (492 ft) | 40 | Crescent Bay | 2024 |
Royal Marina | 150 m (492 ft) | 40x2 | Clifton Bl-2 | 2023 |
KASB Altitude Tower | 150 m (492 ft) | 38 | Clifton Bl-1 | 2021 |
Dominion Twin Towers | 150 m (492 ft) | 40 x 2 | Bahria Town | 2023 |
The Groove | 150 m (492 ft) | 38 | KPT Interchange | 2023 |
Greens Three | 150 m (492 ft) | 30 | Clifton Bl-8 | 2024 |
The Orchid | 140 m (459 ft) | 38 | Clifton | 2022 |
Seafront towers | 150 m (492 ft) | 32 | Clifton Bl-8 | 2024 |
Residential Tower | 130 m (427 ft) | 32 | Clifton Bl-8 | 2024 |
Indigo Classic | 120 m (394 ft) | 32 | Clifton Bl-2 | 2023 |
Arabian Sea Tower | 120 m (394 ft) | 30 | Clifton Bl-1 | 2024 |
Signature 27 | 120 m (394 ft) | 30 | DHA phase 1 Ext | 2024 |
Lucky One [38] | 130 m (427 ft) | 28 | Gulberg | 2020 |
Karachi is the capital city of the Pakistani province of Sindh. It is the largest city in Pakistan and 12th largest 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 and formerly served as the country's capital from 1947 to 1959. Ranked as a beta-global city, it is Pakistan's premier industrial and financial centre, with an estimated GDP of over $200 billion (PPP) as of 2021. Karachi is a metropolitan city and is considered Pakistan's most cosmopolitan city, and among the country's most linguistically, ethnically, and religiously diverse regions, as well as one of the country's most progressive and socially liberal cities.
Saddar, also known as Saddar Bazaar, is a neighbourhood in Karachi, Pakistan. 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.
Saddar Town lies in the Karachi District South that forms much of the historic colonial core of Karachi, in the Sindh province of Pakistan. According to the 2023 Pakistani census, Saddar Subdivision has a population 159,363.
Clifton is an upscale and historic seaside locality in Karachi, Pakistan. It is one of the most affluent parts of the city, home to some of Karachi's most expensive real estates. It is home to several foreign consulates, while its commercial centres are amongst the most high-end in Pakistan, with a strong presence of international brands.
I. I. Chundrigar Road, previously known as McLeod Road, is a road located in central business district of Karachi, Pakistan, and is named after former Pakistani Prime Minister Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar. The road serves as the spine of Pakistan's largest financial centre, and is frequently referred to as "Pakistan's Wall Street". It is oriented on an east-west basis and links Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed Road in the east to Merewether Tower in the west.
Habib Bank Plaza, also known as HBL Plaza, located on I. I. Chundrigar Road in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, is the head office of Habib Bank Limited. It was once the tallest building in Asia, a title that hasn't been held by any other building in South Asia, and was one of only three to hold the title outside of East and Southeast Asia, while still under construction between 1963 and 1968. It was also the tallest building in South Asia until 1972, when it was surpassed by Express Towers, in India. It remained the tallest building in Pakistan for four decades until the 29-floor and 116m tall MCB Tower was built, also in Karachi.
The Port Tower Complex is a proposed skyscraper, with a planned height of 593 m (1,946 ft), to be located in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
Bahria Town (Private) Limited is an Islamabad-based privately owned real-estate development company which owns, develops and manages properties across Pakistan.
Ocean Mall is a 120-metre-tall (393 ft) skyscraper in the Clifton locality of Karachi, Pakistan. It was built between 2009 and 2014, and contains a shopping mall and office spaces.
Bahria Icon Tower is a skyscraper complex in the seaside municipality of Clifton in Karachi, Pakistan. The complex includes a 62-storey tower, which at 300 metres (980 ft), is the tallest building in Pakistan and among the tallest buildings in South Asia. The complex also includes an adjacent 42-storey building and is owned by the Bahria Town Group. The construction of Bahria Icon Tower was started in 2009 and completed in March 2023.
Bahria Town Karachi is a privately owned gated suburb just off the M-9 Motorway northeast of Karachi, Pakistan. The suburb is being developed by the Bahria Town Group, and occupies over 46,000 acres. Construction started in 2014 and will continue.
Karachi is located on the coastline of Sindh province in southern Pakistan, along a natural harbour on the Arabian Sea. The city has a very diverse population with very affluent areas such as Clifton and large areas of people living in middle class environments. Karachi is ranked as a Beta world city in the GaWC index, and is widely recognized as the prime financial and transport hub of Pakistan.
Serai Quarter, sometimes called Serai Quarters, is a neighbourhood in central Karachi, Pakistan that according to Pakistan forms much of its historic central business district. In addition to Karachi's financial centre centred on Serai Quarter's I. I. Chundrigar Road, Serai Quarter contains over 200 "historic buildings", which make up about 37% of all building plots in the quarter. Of these, 78 are protected by the Sindh Cultural Heritage Preservation Act of 1994.
Dolmen City is a mixed-use complex, situated on the waterfront of Clifton, in Karachi, Pakistan. It is made up of four towers: Tower A, Tower B, Harbour Front, and Executive Tower. At the base of the complex is the Dolmen Mall, a three-level shopping mall built in 2011 with an area of 600,000 sq ft (56,000 m2), and 130 stores - including several international brands. The total area of the entire Dolmen City complex is 3,441,340 sq ft (319,711 m2).
Chapal Skymark is an under-construction tower in Karachi, expected to become Pakistan's tallest residential skyscraper. It will have 50 stories with an expected height of 210m.
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: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)Pedestrians walk past Habib Bank Plaza, head office of Habib Bank Ltd., in the business and financial hub of Karachi, Pakistan, on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012.
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