Native name: شمس پیر Nickname: Shamspeer | |
|---|---|
 Interactive map of Shamspir | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Keamari District,Karachi,Sindh |
| Coordinates | 24°50′35″N66°55′10″E / 24.84306°N 66.91944°E /24.84306; 66.91944 |
| Archipelago | Kiamari archipelago |
| Adjacent to | Arabian Sea |
| Area | 0.65 km2 (0.25 sq mi)[1] |
| Highest elevation | 1 m (3 ft)[1] |
| Administration | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 5000 (2008)[2] |
| Additional information | |
| Time zone | |
Shamspir (Urdu:شمس پیر) is a populatedisland off the coast ofKarachi,Sindh,Pakistan. The village on the island, administratively part ofKeamari District, is home to approximately 5,000 residents.[2]
Located west ofKarachi Harbour, north ofSandspit Beach, and west ofKakapir, the island was surrounded by densemangrove forests until 2006. However, these forests have been significantly reduced over the past two decades within the harbour's ecosystem.[3]
Shamspir is named for the shrine of a saint, named Hazrat Sham Pir, located on the island. Shamspir is an old village which, like the nearbyBaba and Bhit Islands, predates the formal establishment of Karachi.[4] Residents from Baba and Bhit islands helped settle Shamspir.[5] During the British era, some residents ofMithadar andKharadar were settled in Shamspir during construction of thePort of Karachi.[6] Some of those residents moved further west and established the fishing village ofKakapir.[6]
