Karachi District underBritish India underwent significant transformation during the period 1936 to 1948.[1] Initially part ofSind Province, it emerged as a pivotal economic and administrative hub.[2]
The district's role and status underwent a dramatic shift with thePartition of India in 1947, culminating in its transfer to the newly formedFederal Capital Territory of Pakistan in 1948.[3][4]
During the British colonial era, the administrative setup of Karachi District included several important talukas:
1. Karachi Taluka - The central hub of trade, administration, and port activities. It included the city and surrounding settlements.
2. Kotri Taluka - Situated near the Indus River, it was significant due to its role in transportation and trade routes.
3. Manora Taluka - A coastal region focused on defense and port operations, including Manora Island.
4. Manjhand Taluka - Located inland, known for its rural settlements and agricultural importance.
5. Thatta Taluka - A historical region with a rich cultural past, once a prominent center of trade and learning.
6. Keti Bunder Taluka - A coastal area serving as a fishing and trading port near the Arabian Sea.Indian Gazetteer of India
Following thePartition of India in 1947, Karachi was declared the capital of the newly formedIslamic Republic of Pakistan.[5] To ensure the federal government's autonomy, theFederal Capital Territory (FCT) was carved out ofKarachi District in 1948.[6]
TheFCT remained thecapital of Pakistan until 1960 when the capital was shifted toRawalpindi. While Karachi's status as the federal capital ended, it continued to be a major economic and financial hub ofPakistan.[7]
| Religious group | 1872[8] | 1881[9] | 1891[10] | 1901[11] | 1911[12] | 1921[13] | 1931[14] | 1941[15] | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | ||||
Islam | 347,551 | 82.07% | 390,067 | 81.49% | 453,188 | 80.23% | 483,474 | 79.54% | 396,334 | 75.97% | 386,151 | 71.24% | 465,785 | 71.63% | 457,035 | 64.02% | |||
Hinduism [a] | 72,513 | 17.12% | 82,860 | 17.31% | 103,589 | 18.34% | 115,240 | 18.96% | 111,748 | 21.42% | 138,485 | 25.55% | 162,111 | 24.93% | 222,597 | 31.18% | |||
Christianity | 2,643 | 0.62% | 4,674 | 0.98% | 6,314 | 1.12% | 6,486 | 1.07% | 9,013 | 1.73% | 9,999 | 1.84% | 13,152 | 2.02% | 17,695 | 2.48% | |||
Zoroastrianism | 717 | 0.17% | 969 | 0.2% | 1,408 | 0.25% | 1,841 | 0.3% | 2,202 | 0.42% | 2,720 | 0.5% | 3,364 | 0.52% | 3,721 | 0.52% | |||
Judaism | 7 | 0% | 106 | 0.02% | 147 | 0.03% | 381 | 0.06% | 573 | 0.11% | 661 | 0.12% | 955 | 0.15% | 1,053 | 0.15% | |||
Jainism | — | — | 9 | 0% | 99 | 0.02% | 126 | 0.02% | 650 | 0.12% | 1,118 | 0.21% | 629 | 0.1% | 3,215 | 0.45% | |||
Buddhism.svg) | — | — | 3 | 0% | 2 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 21 | 0% | 41 | 0.01% | 53 | 0.01% | 111 | 0.02% | |||
Sikhism | — | — | — | — | 132 | 0.02% | — | — | 1,150 | 0.22% | 2,543 | 0.47% | 4,009 | 0.62% | 7,589 | 1.06% | |||
| Tribal | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 30 | 0.01% | 347 | 0.06% | 172 | 0.03% | 884 | 0.12% | |||
| Others | 64 | 0.02% | 0 | 0% | 1 | 0% | 280 | 0.05% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 10 | 0% | 0 | 0% | |||
| Total population | 423,495 | 100% | 478,688 | 100% | 564,880 | 100% | 607,828 | 100% | 521,721 | 100% | 542,065 | 100% | 650,240 | 100% | 713,900 | 100% | |||
| Note:British Sindh era district borders are not an exact match in the present-day due to various bifurcations to district borders — which since created new districts — throughout the region during the post-independence era that have taken into account population increases. | |||||||||||||||||||
