This is the fourth part of our series on best planned neighborhoods of Pakistan. We have so far covered Eight bazaars of Faisalabad, North Nazimabad, Karachi and Model Town, Lahore in this series. Today we are going back to Karachi and will give you an introduction of Federal-B-Area which is definitely among the best planned localities of Pakistan.
Brief History
The town planning of Federal-B-Area dates back to 1950s when Karachi was still the capital of Pakistan and many new neighborhoods were getting built up to house the employees of the Federal Governemnt. The present day neighborhoods of North Nazimabad, Federal Capital (FC) Area and Federal-B-Area were all part of this vision to give Karachi a well planned capital city infrastructure. While North Nazimabad was laid out by Italian town planners, I am unable to research who did the planning for Federal-B-Area. Reader’s help is sought here.
Federal-B-Area, Mansoora and Gulberg Town
Over the years Federal-B-Area has changed a few names depending on which local government is in power but the original name of Federal-B-Area still thrives. In 1983 after a religious party’s victory in local body elections, Federal-B-Area was renamed as ‘Mansoora’ and North Nazimabad was renamed as ‘Taimuria’. These names however, didn’t become very popular. Today the name ‘Mansoora’ has become relegated to a cricket ground only in Federal-B-Area’s block 10 where as ‘Taimuria’ has been relegated to the name of North Nazimabad‘s police station only.
During Pervaiz Musharraf’s tenure, Federal-B-Area neighborhood was renamed again and it became Gulberg Town, but the orginial name still remains popular and is still written as the de-facto address on postal mail.
Following is Federal-B-Area’s map taken from Karachi City Government’s website where it is shown as Gulberg Town and divided into 8 Union Councils.
I recently came across an article by Osman Samiuddin at cricinfo.com where he has written about Federal-B-Area in following words:
Federal B Area – was originally designed for those entrusted with the running of Pakistan, in the days when Karachi was the capital. The country is not run from here anymore, but the roads are wide, the houses old, and here a neighbourhood is still a neighbourhood, not a random collection of houses. It is one of Karachi’s many beating hearts.
If you drive through Federal-B-Area today, you may not be very impressed at first sight. It is a locality which has seen its glory days. The locality is now on its way to what is called ‘Urban Decay’ in the town planning terms. Houses and apartments built 30 years ago are crumbling. Many apartment buildings are in dire needs of repairs. During monsoon months of strong sea-breeze the situation is like this sher:
itna na tez chal ke hil jaayen bam-o-dar
ae sar-phiri hawa mein ‘kiraaye’ ke ghar mein hooN
Federal-B-Area is not a posh locality either and street crime is no less than other areas of the city “BUT” all these signs of ‘Urban Decay’ are our collective failure of civics and the society as a whole.
The reason we have chosen Federal-B-Area to be featured here is because of its well-planned infrastructure and town planning for which one has to see beyond the immediate first impression of an old locality to appreciate it.
The post below is a bit heavy on satellite images but I found it was the best way to highlight the features of town planning, symmetry and geometry that has gone behind the layout of Federal-B-Area.
Boundaries of Federal-B-Area:
Following image shows the whole Federal-B-Area locality roughly enclosed in the green polygon that I’ve drawn. North of Federal-B-Area is the locality of North Nazimabad with ‘Gujjar Nullah’ separating the two. Western boundary of Federal-B-Area is formed by the Railway Track of Karachi Circular Railway . East of Federal-B-Area is Gadap Town and South of Federal-B-Area is the locality of Gulshan-i-Iqbal with Lyari Expressway and Lyari river separating the two.
Before we go further I want to point out the ratio of free space to residential areas in the above image. There are more than 40 free spaces or grounds within 10 square kilometer area of Federal-B-Area. This feature makes Federal-B-Area the candidate of best planned localities.
Sub-Divisions in Federal-B-Area:
Federal-B-Area is divided into 21 blocks (sub-zones). These are numbered 1 through 21, unlike North Nazimabad where blocks are numbered alphabetically from A through T. The 21 blocks of Federal-B-Area are divided into plots of various sizes wihch have following categories:
R – 120 sq yards,
A – 240 sq yards
B – 400 sq yards,
C – 600 sq yards,
D – 1000 sq yards
North Nazimabad, Karachi also follows the above plot categories with an additional category of F – 2000 sq yds plots.
Twenty of federal-B-Area blocks are residential and one is Industrial. However, with the passage of time, just as it has happened to many other once grand localities of the city, people have started turning residential plots into more and more commercial enterprises. I’ve noticed that as cities grow older, people tend to move to outer suburbs and older localities start turning into commercial zones, godowns or high rises.
Shahrah-i-Pakistan through Federal-B-Area:
Another aspect of Federal-B-Area’s geography is that Shahrah-i-Pakistan runs through it. This main artery of the city roughly bisects Federal-B-Area into two zones. The importance of Shahrah-i-Pakistan cannot be over looked. It is the same road which runs from Karachi Port to all the way to Landi Kotal in NWFP.
Following photo shows Shahrah-i-Pakistan in 2008 after it was relaid and recarpeted. Photo is taken at the ramp of Liaquat flyover looking towards Aisha Manzil.
Here is another photo of Shahrah-i-Pakistan as it passes through Block 4 and Block 3. The photo was taken on February 5, 2010 and it appeared in the daily Jang newspaper.
North of Federal-B-Area (at Sohrab Goth chowrangi), Shahrah-e-Pakistan becomes the super highway which is scheduled to be upgraded as a 6 -lane Motorway (M9). At Hyderabad bypass, Super Highway meets the trans-Pakistan highway N5. Before Karachi Northern bypass (M10) was built, Shahrah-i-Pakistan through Federal-B-Area used to carry more than 75% of Pakistan’s road cargo from Karachi port to upcountry.
Following photo shows Sohrab-Goth interchange on Shahrah-i-Pakistan which forms the Eastern boundary of Federal-B-Area.
Personal Note:
By the way guys, I’ve spent 70% of my life in Federal-B-Area, therefore there is a natural bias in telling all the good stories about it. For me federal-B-area is like:
teray koochay is bahaane mujhe din se raat karna
kabhi is se baat karna kabhi os se baat karna
However, I want to keep this post authentic therefore I’ll separate my personal views from facts and figures and wirte them under separate headings below.
Federal-B-Area Block by Block:
Lets visit all the individual blocks of Federal-B-Area
Blocks 1 and 2:
Both blocks are located on the south side of Shahrah-i-Pakistan. These blocks border the Liaquatabad area and are separated from it by the Karachi Circular Railway Track.
Bazaar-e-Faisal is the main commercial center of Block 2. Karachi’s famous Government Delhi Boys Science College is also located in block 2.
Block 3:
It is also located on the South side of Shahrah-i-Pakistan. This is a very diverse area. Several languages are spoken here. Aga Khan community has a big presence in Block 3 besides Bantwa Memons, Okhai Memons, Katchi Memons, people with roots from Junagarh state etc. Meena bazaar is the main commercial center of Block 3.
Following photo shows Meena bazaar facade in Block 3. I took this photo on December 22, 2009.
Personal: I have played lots of cricket on the grounds of Block 3. The famous Miandad Sports shop is also located here. One can find Pakistan’s ex-first class Cricketer Anwar Miandad selling cricket gear here. In early days of this shop Javed Miandad also used to come here once in a while and used to cause traffic jam in the area.
Besides Miandad Sports, another place to frequent in Block 3 is ‘United Bakery’ which makes the best gulab-jaman in Pakistan (note: this sentence appears under my personal views section)
Block 4:
Block 4 is located on north side of Shahrah-i-Pakistan. A lot of residential plots in Block 4 are fast changing into commercial businesses like schools and hospitals. Look at the satellite image of Block 4 below and one can appreciate the symmetry as well as the ratio of free space to residential space.
Personal: A good part of my life has been spent playing cricket in the ground and the streets shown in the satellite image above. This famous event of my life also happened on this very same ground located in Block 4. I have also written about several other events on these pages which happened in Block 4. (See here, here and here)
Blocks 5 and 6:
Both of these blocks are located North of Shahrah-i-Pakistan. Block 5 borders North Nazimabad with ‘Gujjar nullah’ in between.
Block 6 used to have a famous cricket ground by the name of ‘Gulfishan’. It is under the occupation of Pakistan Rangers for the past 17 years now. Just like Block 4, it is also fast changing into a commercial zone. The photo below shows the satellite image of Block 6.
Blocks 4, 5 and 6 combined make up one union council of Gulberg town called Aisha Manzil Union Council.
Block 7:
It is located on South side of Shahrah-i-Pakistan. Block 7 is famous for Sultan Mohammad Shah Aga Khan school and college as well as the tableeghi jamaat’s Madani Masjid.
Personal: The photo below shows the image of Sultan Mohammad Shah Aga Khan school located in Block 7. Spread across 21 acres, it is also the largest school of karachi. It houses a Cricket ground, a soccer ground and a hockey ground besides several shaded areas. This is also the school where I spent 10 years of my life. As with all other blocks of Federal-B-Area, a good part of my school days and hot summer afternoons from Grade V to Grade X were spent in the sports grounds of my school shown in the photo below. A cement cricket pitch is visible in the image below. It was built when I was in Grade X – 1987. It was a historic moment for our school otherwise we used to play on a turf wicket which we had to roll daily using a hand-roller pulled and pushed by atleast 5 guys together.
Block 8:
It is located on South side of Shahrah-i-Pakistan. It is famous for Jinnah ground. Karachi City government has plans to build a 140 ft tall fountain in Jinnah ground which is also close to the HQ of ruling part in Karachi in Block 8 of Federal-B-Area.
Following photo is one of the famous landmarks of Federal-B-Area called ‘mukka chowk’ located at the interestion of Block 8 and Block 9.
Mukka chowk got remodelled in October 2009. Following is a night shot of this rondabout from November 3, 2009.
Block 9:
Block 9 is famous for Dastagir Housing Society. It is located on south side of Shahrah-i-Pakistan. Some of us may remember the famous PTV ad of 80s calling for “gas ka ilaaj—Farzana Dawakhana Dastagir # 9″. Yes, Farzana Dawakhan is located here.
Sangam Sports Cricket ground is located in Block 9. The ground is named after a cricket club called Sangam Sports which used to play here years ago.
Federal-B-Area’s main post office (Postal Code 75950) is located in Block 9.
Block 10, 11, 12 and 13:
All these blocks are located on north side of Shahrah-i-Pakistan. Famous landmark in Block 10 is Mansoora Cricket Ground.
and Shadab Soccer Ground in Block 11. Shadab used to be a cricket ground but lately it has been turned into a soccer ground.
Block 13 has Federal-B-Area’s police station called ‘Gulberg Police Station’.
Blocks 11, 12 and 13 combined are also called Gulberg.
Before moving to Lahore, Javed Miandad had a residence in Block 12. Following image shows the views of Blocks 10, 11, 12 and 13.
Blocks 14 and 15
All these blocks are located on East side of Shahrah-i-Pakistan. Main landmarks in Block 15 are the famous T-Ground as well as the UBL Sports Complex. The cricket ground of UBL Sports complex is a first class Cricket venue. The comples and also includes an astro-turf hockey Ground and a track-and-Field arena as seen in the image below.
Following photos show block 14 and 15.
Personal: Block 14 is famous for a business called ‘Javed nihari’ - makes the best nihari in town, in my opinion. During school days I’ve spent several study nights eating nihari and drinking coke at Javed’s nihari joint. Block 14 also has several ‘sheermaal’ and ‘taftaan’ stores along the main road. I love eating ‘sheermaal’ instead of ‘paraatha’. After I got my motorcycle license, I used to frequent these places whenever hungry and used to eat 1 or 2 ‘sheermaal’ while riding the motorcylce.
Block 16:
Block 16 is famous for Karachi Medical and Dental College. Block 16 has several aparmtent blocks especially along the main roads. One of them called Yousuf Plaza located in Block 16, is one of the largest apartment complexes in Pakistan.
Personal: My parents first home in Karachi was in Block 16. We moved out when I was 5 (1976). I have faint memories of Block 16 from that early age. I do remember the vast expanse of the ground shown in the image below. It appeared even larger in my childhood memories. I also have a memory of seeing a 4-story building crash in 1975-76. It was later rebuilt. It is the first structure at bottom right, just above the red polygon corner of image below.
Blocks 17 and 18:
All these blocks are located on north side of Shahrah-i-Pakistan. Block 17 is also called ‘Samanabad’. It is famous for Pak-Flag Hockey Ground located here. Block 18 area is also called ‘Ancholi’.
Personal: For couple of years in my teenage I got attracted to playing hockey and played at club level. Pak Flag hockey Ground in block 17 used to be one of best Hockey Grounds in the area. I got to play in one game at Pak Flag and I remember being very proud to be able to play at this ground.
teray koochay mein yooN khaRa hooN
jaisay hockey ka goal-keeper hooN
by Zameer jafri
Blocks 19 and 20:
Block 19 and portions of Block 20 are called ‘Al Noor’ society and both blocks are located north of Shahrah-i-Pakistan.
Personal: Once again I played lots of cricket on Alnoor Gymkhana ground. In block 20, there used to be a ‘Zafar Library’ next to the cricket ground. Every now and then a sixer used to land on Zafar Library’s roof and it was hard to retrieve ball from there. Whenever a batsman used to miss hitting a short-pitch ball, we used to say ‘he missed a ‘Zafar library waali ball’ which means he missed a golden opportunity to hit a six. – just a random thought that came to my mind from block 20. Sometimes batsmen used to try to hit balls in certain homes. Why? A hint should come from this sher of Nazeer Akbarabadi
muddat se ho raha hai jin ka makaaN puraana
uth ke hai un ko meenay mein har aan chat par jaana
Following image shows Blocks 17, 18, 19 and 20.
Following is a view of Sohrab goth flyover located at the corner of block 20, 16 and 21 during the night.
Block 21:
This is the industrial zone of Federal-B-Area with several industrial units and a now defunct Movie Studio located here. Some of the industries located in Federal-B-Area include Textiles and
Packaged Food.
Following is a satellite image showing portions of block 20 and 21 of Federal-B-Area. Sohrab Goth Flyover and Lyari Expressway’s interchange on Highway N5 is visible in this image. Sohrab Goth flyover is also the zero-point on Karachi-Peshawar-Torkham highway N5.
Federal-B-Area’s Postal Code: 75950
Following photo is a night shot of Aisha Manzil intersection with 4 corners forming the boundaries of Block 6, 7, 9 and 10 of Federal-B-Area.
Population: According to 1998 census, the population of Federal-B-Area was 453490.
Karachi Mass Transit Plan and Federal-B-Area
Karachi’s Mass transit Plan (KMTP) had an elevated light train planned for Federal-B-Area which was to run from Sohrab Goth to Merewether Tower with Sohrab Goth-Karimabad portion falling in Federal-B-Area.
My personal sense is that KMTP is now practically dead as current City Government has come up with their own Karachi 2020 Vision and they are concentrating on several Signal Free Corridors (2 East-West Corridors are built and 1 North-South corridor is under construction).
Federal-B-Area has also gained on all this infrastructure development and is within reach of atleast 2 Signal Free corridors and Lyari Expressway.
Telephone Exchange: Federal-B-Area has a dedicated land line Digital Telephone Exchange under PTCL. The telephone area code for Federal-B-Area exchange (called Azizabad Exchange) is 636.
Closing Remarks:
I’ll put Federal-B-Area as second to only North Nazimabad in town planning features in Karachi. On Pakistan level, I’ll place it several localities down the line behind Islamabad sectors, Lahore’s Model Town and a few cantonments. In a big picture, it is definitely in one of the top town planning examples of Pakistan.
ATP’s Other Posts on Best Planned Localities of Pakistan, Series:
1. The Best Planned Localities of Pakistan: Model Town, Lahore
2. The Best Planned Localities of Pakistan: North Nazimabad, Karachi
3. The Best Planned Localities of Pakistan: Eight bazaars of Faisalabad
Federal-B-Area Related Posts on ATP:
All of the Following posts have some or many events that took place in Federal-B-Area, Karachi.
1. The Zip Code Man knows 75950
2. Humayun and Ramzan Cricket
3. Remembering Tikanjoo
4. Khandan XI
5. Curry in a Hurry
6. A Crow on a Pakistani Street
Credits:
1. Satellite images from Google Earth
Owais, good work, very informative!
I hope you will share all this hard work you have put into identifying various features and points of interest here (if you or some one else hasn’t already done that!):
http://mapmaker.google.com
Nice article,
But you forgot to mention the presence of Rashid Lateef Cricket Academy in Block 13
Very nice article.
In my opinion, all localities built in Karachi just after independance are very well planned. It includes PECHS also where I have lived for so many years and still believe that it is best locality of Karachi to live in.
Thankfully, F ederal B Area is still safe from encroachments of free space by current CDGK establishment. Though you should give them credit for building bridges, the current CDGK has encroached almost all the free space in the most well planned locality of PAkistan North NAzimabad building plots over there and handing them over to their ‘karkuns’.
http://www.pkcolumnist.com/ardeshir-cowasjee/%e2%80%98i-own-karachi%e2%80%99-%e2%80%94-and-can-sell-it
Owais bhai zabardast post hay … waqai bohat informative hay!
.
Mustafa Kamal zindabad
PatExpat. You are correct in your observation. F. B. Area hasn’t escaped official land grabbing either. Example is the Federal Cricket / Gulfishan hockey club Ground in Block 6. This ground used to be the only open place for playing cricket in Block 4, 5, and 6 together. In 1991 it was officially encroached upon and they started building an auditorium right on top of the cricket pitch and a hockey goal post. From 1992 onwards, it was encroached upon by Rangers who use the incomplete auditorium to bake ‘rotis’ in make-shift tandoor there and wash clothes.
This ground is so big that it can simultaneously have a cricket, hockey and football grounds in it.
Luckily the ground in block 4 got cleared of encroachments in 1990 and that has provided an alternate place for area youth to play but loss of block 6 ground is right there. blatant and depriving youth of a free space.
You can see this ground in the sat image of block 6 above.
Syed Jaad. I have briefly mentioned Rashid Latif Cricket Academy under the heading ‘Federal-B-Area, Mansoora and Gulberg Town’ with a link to Osman Samiuddin’s article at cricinfo. I’ve personally not visited RLCA so I don’t know how it looks like. If you look in the satellite piucture of Block 13 above, is it the ‘Green’ cricket ground shown there?
I never knew FB Area looks so amazing :-)
You did not mention following food places:
1)Halwa Puri at Water Pump
2)Cafe Piyala at Gulberg Chowrangi
3)Haleem wala at Samnabad, I am forgetting the name.
4)chicken soup at Gulberg Chowrangi
:-)
As usual, very informative post.
Adnan you mentioned Chicken soup at Gulberg chowrangi but I want to bring to your attention 2 chicken soup vendors at Meena Bazaar (block 3 FB Aaea). Their chicken soup almost took my life. Here is an anecdote of my experience with them. I’ve written it as a comment at another ATP post
In 1987 I got badly addicted to street side chicken soup sold behinf Meena Bazar. I was in grade X and studied in an afternoon school. After school finished at 5 p.m., I used to walk out of my way to go to this market (Meena bazaar) and drink chicken soup from the
Adnan, thanks for reminding of Halwa Puri at Water Pump and Cafe’ Pyala. Both are indeed landmark eateries of FB area. About Cafe’ Pyala, many years ago it was famous that ‘woh chai mein kuch milaata hai’ that is why people kept coming back to it again and again. Of course it could’ve been just a rumor but the point is their ‘doodh patti’ used to be so much addictively tasty.
Syed Jaad. I am trying to figure out where is Rashid Latif Academy located in Block 13. Is it the same cricket ground which was formerly called TMC?
this chicken soup anecdote was equally interesting to read … o u zinda laash .. LOL :o)
I visited our relatives in the area often and can identify many of the areas. Laughed out loud imagining you eating Sheermal on the bike. Is shahira Pakistan the road that passed through laaloo khet to alkaram or is it some other road? About dying from soup, I had a similar experience albeit when visiting Pakistan after 11 years a couple of years ago. Was very careful the first few days of my visit with what I ate and I of course had to stay on bottled water. One evening was sitting at this slick coffee shop on the beach, which from the inside looked better than the ones in New York, catching up with a high school friend as he ordered a drink called limka (a local lemonade version) for me. I forgot my restrain of drinking from bottled water and enjoyed drinking it while talking. It was so good I ordered another one and chugged it. In the next few days I almost died from that mistake. I wonder how far the country is from putting water treatment plants in every city.
Adnan Ahmed bhai, yes the same Shahrah-i-Pakistan goes through laloo-khet/Alkaram square.
i know Limka drink :) it used to be a craze at one point in time. The bottle is corked under pressure and Thela-waalas deliberately used to have a ‘tin’ roof on their ‘thelas’ and while serving the drink to clients they let the cork fly and hit the tin roof with a festive bang :) –> Marketing stunt
SHEERMAL ki kahaani :)
================
Adnan Ahmed bhai :) Eating ‘sheermal’ while riding motor-bike is an art which I mastered in late 80s :) I used to go on these ‘sheermal’ eating sprees when food cooked at home was anything like ‘shaljam’, ‘tinday’, ‘kaddoo’, ‘bhindi’ etc etc
I used to buy 2 sheermal from Block 14 FB aRea (capital of sheermal and Taftan in Pakistan). The shopkeeper used to give them wrapped in old newspaper. I used to put that wrap on the petrol ‘tunkee’ of my motorbike. One hand used to be on the accelerator side of the handle and with other hand I used to break these ‘sheermaal’ into ‘niwalas’ and kept eating while riding the motorbike.
Hot sheermals taste extra tasty in Karachi winters. shopkeepers keep them warm in aquarium looking glass boxes under the heat of electric bulbs. On wooden tops of these glass boxes, it is usually painted in Red paint something like ‘Haji Jumma Taftan’ or ‘Haji Mahfooz Sheermal’ etc etc
Great post Owais bhai:-). I was born and bread in Block 12 of F.B.Area. Still my family lives there.
Adnan Siddiqi: The Haleem shop’s name at Samanabad is Mazedaar Haleem.
Owais, Hilarious! As a chronic carnivore I could relate to running away from all those dishes. Ironically not long after high school, I would terribly miss those vegetable dishes and that would last for many years.
adnan bhai. same here. now i happily eat all those vegetables dishes which if they were fed to me 15 years ago, i immediaely used to go on ‘bhook hartaal’ or sneaked out of home to eat burgers etc
i am very interested in learning balochi, can u please please add me and give me lessons. please!!!!
i’m a resident of bl 13 by the way, :)
Owais
Great work. Planning on visiting Malir?
Bad experience I must say. the chicken soup wala at Gulberg Chowrangi was quite good and way better than others. My friend used to live in Gulberg block 12 and after studies we used to go there.
and mentioning “Crows” can’t make me to stay away from soup :D
@Fazeel: Thanks yaar but the haleem taste is not good anymore
Cafe Piyala, Suna tu mayne bhi hay but har baar sun kar phir se ek cup chai pi laity hain. yeah theire doodh patti was pretty awesome.
Keya Yad Deladiya Owais Bahi
There are a couple of things I remember since I spent my early days in block 10 FB area. Also there are some interesting places were missed.
1. Arshi Cinema on Aisha Manzil: One of the best built cinema and probably the only cinema in FB area. Turned to a shopping center.
2. Moosa colony a Katchi Abadi predominantly of Bengali origin where you can get live fish.
3. Khan Broast on Shahrahe Pakistan. One of the best Broast of Karachi.
4. Mehmood Sweets on Water Pump Chorangi.
5. Karimabad flea market which you would normally go in Ramazan to get Samosa Strips, Rice Papad , etc. People would prepare those stuff in their homes and then sell it outside their apartment.
6. Karimabad Photocopying center where you would normally go during the finalization of project.
aah Khan Broast, Naseer abad. yes it still exists!
Isn’t Al-Asif part of FB Area? if yes then how one can miss out the famous Karrahi and Qahva there? :-)
Block 8 is also called Azizabad. Government Comprehensive High School is another large school there with a cricket ground in back. I am not sure whot sort of state is it in. Google earth shows that a corner of the scool lot has been occupied/converted into a mosque now. This has happened to several grounds and open spaces in Federal B Area as many of them have been encroched and then converted into big mosques.
Ayaz, in the era of MQM and enlightened moderation, the occupied lands are now being converted into Illegal apartments and unit offices. The Saima Bridge View apartment in North Nazimabad and Pizza Hutt outlet at same place is not legal.
What do you mean Adnan? Are you saying that the mosque showing up on Google earth at the site of the Comprehensive High School is actually an apartment complex built by MQM and followers of enlightend moderation?
Photo of one of the most famous landmarks of F.B.Area, called ‘mukka chowk’ added under Block 8 description.
i recently shifted from Jahangir Road to FB Area Block-16 and has completed exact five years here. I found changed my lifestyle here being educated locality and state of the art infrastructure, specially parks which are the second home of FB Area’s residencers. Plantation in this block at very high, but now a days some people are cutting old and high trees on the excuse that they are hurdling in our galleries for sunlight and on the plea that they are damageing wires errected on poles of KESC which causes electricity breakdown. The cutting of some branches may accepted but on above pleas, cutting the whole trees from the bud is not acceptable. These trees are making our block pollution free and natural to live. People of Block-16 think about it.
Javed Ahmed
0300-2171917
sir u have done a fantastic job.i lives in block 1,and u ahve focused it,i really appreciate that!
Hats off to Owais Mughal , who has done great job by introducing F.B Area in a splendid manner . The site will be richer if names of the notable people from FBArea are also included . Let me suggest a few ;
Behzad Luckhnavi , Shair luckhnavi , Razi Akhtar Shoq , Qamar Jameel , Dr Ateeq-ur Rehman , Shola Aseyuni, Rafique Ghaznavi,Professor Abdul Rauf Samu, Shujaat Husaain Rizvi, Hakim Nisar Ali Khan,Dr Ghous , Prof. Hashmatullah Lodhi, , Dr Nadir Ali , Dr Saud Ahmed , Altaf Hussain, Rauf siddqui , Ahmed Hamadani , Mohammad Aslam Khan …..
IF you conduct a little bit of reserch you will find many more names
Secondly, the pics of important places would also make it more interesting and informative ; such as ;–
Tabba Heart Institute , IED [ Instute of Education Development of AKU] ,Madni Masjid , Agha Khani Jamaat Khana ,Taleemi Bagh, Pioneer Tikka , MQM,s Head Quarter 90 , Farzana Dawa Khana , T-Ground , Sangam Ground ,Askari Ground ,Javed Nahari ,Imam Hospital , Various Marriage Lawns etc etc
I no longer live in FBArea, but my heart and soul still roams there -Good Luck and keep at it
Nusrat Saheb. thanks for your informative comment and filling up the details that I missed. I will definitely add photos of landmarks of F.B.Area in near future.
Federal B Area is truly a great locality of Karachi. You have not mentioned the role this area plays as the center of Pakistan politics as Nine Zero is located in this area. Whatsoever may be the reputation of MQM, the movement was started from this area.
Secondly, you have said that this area has lost its character. F.B.Area is still a middle-class locality with much better living standards as compared to say Nazimabad, Korangi or Liaquatabad. The Blocks on north side of Pakistan Highway have bigger size plots and many upper middle class people still reside there. You also forgot to mention that community security system was started for the first time in Pakistan in this area where streets were barricaded and chowkidars were hired. The system is still working efficiently and the concept has also been exported to some localities of Lahore.
Owais, I grew up in Bl 12 and man I still love it. My family refuses to move out and so am I. If for Karachiites, the city is the centre of the world, FB Area is definitely the heart of this centre.
You forgot to mention largest voter turn out, one of the highest literacy rates, Anarkali Bazar, Edhi center and above all Bl 13 used to be called Gulistan.
Modi, thanks for mentioning the things that I forgot about F.B. Area. Appreciate it. I didn’t know block 13 was called Gulistan. I thought it was all part of greater Gulberg.
Salaam Owais,
an excellent detailed description of FBArea.
You mentioned you still reside in Block-12, reason i am asking is i do too. So since we are practically neighbors, we should meet up sometime either in the Jamiat-Masjid-Gulberg or elsewhere.
I am starting a publication as well so we could help each other out in portraying Pakistan.
Nabil
I don’t live in block 12 but i am familiar with the area. I played lot of cricket on ’5C ka aakhri stop’ Cricket ground (used to be home ground of Gander Sports) as well as Shadab Ground (block 11). I currently live outside Pk.
One favor I need from you is to make sure the information i provided about block 12 in my post above is correct. also if I miss anything more worthwile about block 12 or other blocks of F.B.Area then let me know and I’ll add them to the post above.
gr888 job man …… i m also from f b area blk3… meri yadain tazah ho gayeen yeh sub perh kar bachpan kay din yaad agyee jab main block 6 main happy palace school main tha vii tak then went to sms aga khan school and hsc from akhss………. gr88 man love this……
Dear Abdul Waheed Vayani. One of the owners of Happy Palace School used to be my class fellow from Grade IV through Grade VIII. Small world. We used to go to Aga Khan School in Block 7.
I’ve visited his home several times (which was later converted to Happy Palace School) and have played lots of crciket and hockey in their home :)
aap ke comment ne bhi buhat si yaadeN taaza kar deeN
In which years, were you at Happy Palace School?
Where in Block 3 did you reside? From your last name ‘Vayani’ should I make a guess that you lived in Hussainabad area? Am I right?
Very informative Owais.
I grew up in F B Area block 13 right across from ShehrBano plaza. We used to run across the road to get Sheermal, Taftaan, and Tandoori roti from Haji Mehfooz. Those were the days. I was not much in the cricket scene but I am sure we musta run into each other some time. I have spent countless afternoons in the grounds and parks you have listed.
Those were the days…. (did I say it already)
Thank you for ‘Purani yadain tazaa ker di aap ney’
I agree with your statement that the buildings are showing their age.
Its almost as if they are crying (with the watermarks from the rains and dirt look like dry tears).
I was there last year and I just wanted to hose down ‘All’ the apartment buildings.
AhmedF. Thanks for sharing your memories here. Yes, Haji Mahfooz Sheermal house is an icon of Federal-B-Area :) Whenever we had a gathering at our home, we used to bring ‘rotis’ from Haji Mahfooz. Super fast service.
i m reside in azizabad block 8 f.b.area hats off to u
man u have a great job.
i m reside in azizabad block 8 f.b.area hats off to u
man u have done a great job.
Wow
Great Bro
I have found many things of worth
Keep it up
I had studied in the same school i-e SMS Agakhan school, I think when you had did the matriculation I was in Class 2 or some where around as I passed matriculation in 1997
but yes cricket ground and hockey grounds were superb in Agakhan school and I had enjoyed great time playing there
hope I will see much more from your side
Ali, good to see an SMSian here :) If there is anything that i missed about F.B.Area (and I am sure there are plenty) then feel free to share here.
Google Earth has finally updated its images for Karachi. After a gap of 4 or 5 years? One can now see most of the flyovers, land reclamation around Arabian sea etc done in the past few years.
I’ve also added an image in the post above (under block 21)which shows Sohrab Goth Flyover in the vicinity of Federal-B-Area as well as Lyari Expressway interchange of Sohrab Goth. Take a look!
A night shot of re-designed mukka chowk added to the post under Block 8 description. The photo is from November 3, 2009.
Owais, another excellent article on Pakistaniat. Many congratulations. I hope you will publish all your articles on historical topics related to Pakistan.
i want to play :::::
Photo of Meena Bazar’s facade added to the post today. Look for it under description of Block 3. I took this photo on Dec 22, 2009.
Beautiful website .. F.B area is best :) …. very Informative
Hi Guyz I just love this town because it is my home town too. Gulber town has a variety of colors with Ancholi, Gulberg, Karmibabad, Ayesha Manzil, Sohrab Goth, and many many more places with Water Pump in the vicinity of swimming pools.
Its a very green town and now it looks very cool. On the streets new plants have been planted by mu Government and they look awesome. It is also the home of the MQM. F.B. Area is also home to many parks as well as Industrial areas of Block 21 and 22. So all in all it ia complete package with a variety of colots. I want to go as far as saying that it is a complete paradise with full freedom of life. It is also a very peaceful town with peaceful neighboring towns of Gulshan-e-Iqbal, North Nazimabad and Nazimabad.
Very good and very informative ……… I used to live at Block 9 nearby Sangum which was run by Ansari brother. (Jalal, Nihal, Wasil etc.) They used to live just in front of the ground (Askari side).
In the basement of Arshi Cinema was a play area with loads of playing machines they used Rs. 1 coins (issues of Islamic summit, Allama Iqbal etc) as token.
Next to Block 9 was huge empty lands covered with kikar and Date trees, where now Railway colony, Lal Shahbaz Nagar and A one cottages are situated. We used to go there right after rain and catch something we used to call Bir-bahuti (Velvet mite) small insect with dark red color and velvety texture. There was also a huge crater in the middle of the ground which some say was a very old well and some say was made by a bomb droped by Indian air force. Some Baloch tribe used to live where now I am told is yaseenabad. We also used to stroll a bit further and go to Lyari River and catch fishes.
My god since I have started reading here I started to miss Karachi too much………
Please update and add this information on Wikipedia under Federal B Area.
One request can some put few lines on Government Delhi school at Karimabad. It used to be one of the best nationalised school is Karachi.
For a year and some when I was in 5th class I lived in FBArea, on the SW corner of the T-ground in #15. I thought it was called Dastagir Society. Above suggests that #9 was Dastagir Society.
I remember once Javed Miandad (and his brother) had come over during one of the cricket matches in the T-ground. That was a big deal for us. This is from 78/79.
Nice to read about my childhood place. I used to live in Dastagir society , no.9, just in front of sangam cricket ground.
Article brought back many childhood memories specially neharhi of 14 no. made my mouth water.
@Haider, Dastgir proper used to Block 9, the area around Sangam ground but after a while adjoininig areas like Yaseenabad, Block 14 and Block 15 also started to be called as Dastgir as part of greater Dastgir society.
Can someone put few lines on Government Delhi school situated in Karimabad?
Regarding F.B. Area: Great article. My father was one of the first builders in F B Area and most of first houses in Block 9 through 15 were built by his company. I remember F B Area as far back as when the main roads were being built in Dastgir (early 60′s) and you could still see camel riders on those roads. Many of the names that have been mentioned here by another gentleman were our family friends. I moved out of F B Area in late 70′s and then came back for a little bit before leaving Pakistan in early 80′s. I have gone back to those areas several times in last 25 years and they bring my childhood memories back everytime.
Khalil saheb. thanks for your comment here. What else do you remember about F.B.Area’s early days or anything else you want to share about the area.
Owais, very nice article …thanks
I lived in Federal B Area from 1967 till 1987 in Block 17 south side of “Pak Flag Hockey ground”. This hockey ground used to be a park in early days. Famous hockey player & Olympian IslahUddin used to live in F.B.Area (Block 17) near Encholi before his family moved to Gulshan in mid 70′s.
This article jogged some good memories about this area…
Federal Public School in Block-13 where I did my primary education & attended Dehli School -Kareemabad for secondary school education…used to be the one of the best schools in the area. During NED day’s, used to take point bus from Noorani Masjid….
Again thanks for the article…Nafis
Nafis Saheb, I’ve played hockey – just couple of club matches – at Pak Flag ground in block 17 in mid 80s.
Islahuddin’s relatives lived in Block 4 also and that is where I saw him few times. After Pakistan won 1980′s Champions Trophy, Islahudding bought a sports car from his win bonus. It was a red color sports car with light covers. The lights opened with ignition. In 1980s, this was the biggest feature one could imagine. We used to hang around his sports car whenever it was known that he was in the area – this is all things federal-b-area :) See, if you read comments in this post, we’ve got so many real life stories about this lively locality.
In response to Farrukh Bokhari’s request about Dehli School:
I attended Dehli School from 1970-1974
In 1970, when I was in class 6th, Col. Aftab used to be the Principal
1973, Dehli school was nationalised ( it was the last school nationalised 6 months after all the schools were nationalised)
AhmedUddin was the headmaster in 1973
Some of the teachers I remember are :
Soofi saheb (Sufi Imam Deen) : PT master
Siddiqui Shaeb: Who was the drawing teacher but later on became the headmaster..
Iqbal Qureshi ( urf chuggi) : he was the English teacher and had a little french cut beard…
Mahmood Saheb: MAth teacher
Arif Saheb (Merhoom): Physics teacher who later started teaching at Jinnah College.
Siraj saheb : Urdu teacher
In 1974, Anis Alam got the first position in Karachi Borad, was from Dehli School and was my class fellow…
Owais
I will ask my brother to see if he can get some old pictures of F.B.Area taken in early days (1962 and early).
A few more names from F.B. Area :
Qazi Wajid (Block 14 across from bus stop of Route 6, circa ’60s); Rafiq Ghaznavi (he set up the lyrics of Pakistan National Anthem, Block 15); Josh Malihabadi (Block 14 for a very short time); Shah Balighuddin (I forgot which block number); Khyaam Sarhadi, TV actor; Rozina film actress got married to a guy who moved to Lahore from F.B. Area Block 15. I am sure several more.
Nafis and I had great time in Encholi.
Khalil Saheb. great recall. I didn’t know Block 14-15 had so many famous people living there at some point in time. If you could kindly find us some photos from the early days of F.B.Area then that would be ultimate addition to our effort of collectively exploring the neighborhood’s history here.
Many thanks to Nafis Khan. when I was in school from 1982-1986. Siraj-ul-Haq Sahiab was still teaching Urdu, he, i was later told, has passed away May Allah bless him in abundance and rest his soul in peace – Ameen. As for Iqbal Qureshi Sahiab, we also used to call him Chuggi. Why? We did not knew …….. It was just that we heard it from our predecessor but had no idea it went that back in past, but by then he did not had French cut. I have lately saw some news on net that it is going back to it former owner for they have won court case.
An evening shot of Sohrab goth flyover added to the post under block 20 description.
zaberdast i love thiis web
A new photo of Shahrah-e-Pakistan added to the post above. The photo was taken yesterday (Feb 5, 2010) from the pedestrain bridge between Block 3 and Block 4. It appeared in roznaama jang.
…continuation of the famous people from F.B.Area,
Allama Rasheed Turabi , I still remember his house in Block-20 from mid 70′s. My friend Naveed Raza’s house was very close to Allama’s house.
Also another film personality from Alnoor (Block 19) is Ghulam MohiUddin. I heard that Ghulam Mohiuddin used to play cricket in Alnoor in early 70′s…someone may confirmas as I am not sure!
My friend from Dehli School “Syed Haider Abbsas Rizvi” is the Chairman of Pscychology Dept. Karachi University, I believe still lives in Block 20 . I met Haider couple of years ago after a long long time in Encholi when I was visiting my old neighborhood from US….
Nafis Khan
Very Nice website and connected peoples.
Thanks
Really Great .. It’s Amazing ..
Am proud ov ma’ Pakistan ..
It’s Really Amazing and | have big shoulders to introduce ma’ Country Pakistan .. ~~>> (-_*) <<~~~
Really Amaze to read all this Thanks to Owais Saheb … i want to share some photos of FB Area too …
Photos of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan Park also use to commonly name as SHIP Park because of a Ship Structure at it Center but now in name of remodelling they destroyed all that as a is use to visit it as i was living near it in Block 13 …
Picture Taken 21st May 2004
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/2619727
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/2619787
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/2619492
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/2619908
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/31743087
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/31743099
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/31743108
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/31743092
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/31743125
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/31743120
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/31743112
KAKA BAWANI ACADEMY Near Hussain Abad
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/22669806
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/41577343
Fountain at Apposite Institute of Heart Desease, Shah Jehan Ave, Karachi
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/28966905
Kernal Sardar Khan Library Block 10 Fb Area
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/31553323
MIANDAD STREET BLOCK 12
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/31900562
Shahrah-e-Jahangir Near Tahir villa – Parallel Taj Eye Dated: 30th May 2004
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/31862329
Ayesha Manzil Flyover, Shahrah-e-Pakistan Karachi
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/34940810
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/34940805
Near Kareem Abad – Flyover Towards Liaqatabat @ Shahrah-e-Pakistan
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/41577292
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/41577238
Ayesha Manzil Sky Walkway, Shahrah-e-Pakistan Karachi
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/34940793
AGA KHAN’s JAMAAT KHANA AYESHA MANZIL
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/34940797
Momin Ansari Photos Sharing
http://www.panoramio.com/user/542637
ASSALAAM O ALAYKUM…I M 43 YEARS OLD.MY PLACE OF BIRTH IS F.B.AREA SO I LOVE THIS PLACE VERY MUCH… YEH KARACHI K MUTAWASSIT TABQAY KI SAB SAY BIGGEST OR SAB SAY ZIYADA TARTEEB WAR AABADI HAY (as per my knowledge )…MAGAR AB IS JAGAH KO ABAAD KARNAY WALY YAHAAN SAY SHIFT HO RAHAY HAY KHUSUSAN 120 YARDS WALAY..JSIS KA KAFI ASAR AB NAZAR AANAY LAGA HAY…BEST OF LUCK PAKISTAN.
@Abdullah. Thanks for your comment. Please tell us more about your memories from Block 14 or other areas of F.B.Area.
@Momin. Thanks a lot for the photos of F.B.Area you’ve shared.
That’s Some great research… About who planned F. B. Area, it was planned (partially ) by Doxiades, the greek company which planned islamabad… Doxiades was hired to plan governmental and bureaucratic areas for Karachi as it was the Capital, but the Sudden decision of Ayub Khan of changing the capital to Islamabad left it orphaned out and incomplete, later the plots were sold on ballot and incomplete planned parts were haphazardly planned… F. B. Area stands for Federal Bureaucratic area, where as F.C Area stands for Federal Capital Area.
Thanks. I didn’t know that letter ‘B’ in Federal-B-Area meant ‘bureaucratic’. Makes sense.
I had earlier thought this was just A,B,C letter since there is F.C.Area (Federal Capital Area) locality between F.B.Area and Liaqatabad. I always wondered why there was no F.A.Area :) so now the mystery of nomenclature is solved.
salaam,
sir meri nikha 27 November 2010 ko hova tha, mere or larki k darmiyaan na-itefaqi paida honay ki wajha se rukhsati se phelay hi talaaq ho gai hia.. aab mujhe dosri larki se shadi karni hia to main u.c gulberg town k office se nadra divorce certificate k liye rojo kar raha hou mager u.c officer mujhe 1 month se ab tak nadra divorce certificate nahi de raha hia…
pl mujhe jald az jald nadra divorce certificate diya jaye takay main dosri jaga shadi kar sakou. mujhe plz bohat zarorat hia… aap help karain.
thank u
yasir
Dear Owais Mughal
Salam
i spent half of my life in F B Area, and i am delighted to see the entire story of it and the way u formulated the whole thing .. now i live in a foreing country but when i visit karachi coz my mother,brother and sister are still there i must visit F B Area block 14.. Iqbal tailor near ayub manzil and pass by all those areas where i had my child hood memories, specially the Pak Farman Cricket ground and Bust stop of #6 bus .then Haji abdur rahman body building club near water pump … jawed nihari who had a 10 ft by 6 ft store in block 14 bus stop ( now he is a big shot) ofcourse.. I still love Federal B area Dastagir colony …..
Dear Owais Bhai
This really is a superb effort in order to sum up such detailed info, on a page, for the area where we spent a long span of our lives. Federal “B” Area in general and Block 14 in specific palpitate with my heart beat. We moved to this location in 1978 when I was in class 6 studying in Ibrahim Ali Bhai School, then located in Block 6 but relocated later in Block 10. Now my son is in class 6.
I do live is Saudi now but whenever visits home yearly, I get a bit nostalgic, missing the old memories. In 1978 there were a number of vacant plots in almost every lane and double story houses were rarely seen. Now, it’s nearly impossible to find a single story house in the area.
We had Arshi Cinema “ALIVE” at that time. I saw couple of pictures there. The Salima Abad Jamaat Khana in block 14 (at the back of Mehboob square) was built later, may be in early 80’s. Milan Marriage Hall was the only nearby marriage hall at the main road (Shahra e Pakistan). Haji AbdulRahman body building club was one of the biggest attraction in the area (Block 13) for fitness conscious people. Javed Nihari was just one small room restaurant. The area was calm and quiet with no surveillance in the area, no fully grilled houses like today but no theft/snatch or other crimes were reported.
Almost 50% of the occupants have left the area now and moved to somewhere else. We used to know the people 50 houses away but now it is difficult to tell, who is living in the rear lane house.
The life goes in this way always and time can’t be frozen but human NOSTALGIA doesn’t understand this fact. May Allah Keep my block; block-14, my area; Federal B Area, My city; Karachi and my homeland Pakistan safe, secure, prosperous and peaceful, ALWAYS. Aameen
Dears, Today, incidentally I reached here and am amazed to see the detailed work been done and particularly with the love that I have found in the words. Though we have being here for 8 years, found it to be much better society in Karachi. I wish the people who developed this area re-united themselves to safe-guard the purity of the innocence of children and people I have heard about, of this society. Indeed every corner of this area is beautiful, and people are lovely. Allah may bless our Area, City and Country. “Aameen” TJ
Dear Owais bhai, I appreciate your research and putting an article together on the planning of FB Area. I want to add something about few blocks of Memon Colony in F B Area. There are approximate 2000 plots owned by the Pakistna Memon Education and Welfare Society (PMEWS) – An NGO established by Sir Adamjee in 1928 in Calcutta, India whose Pakistan chapter was formed in 1953 in Karachi,. These plots measuring 120 sqyd each were given to Memon families in ealry 60s who migrated from India and were in need of shelter. I can post you a detailed article on the subject which was published in the Golden Jubilee Souvenior of PMEWS in 2003. You may write me at mailsnmails@yahoo.com
Dear Owais bhai;
that is really great work. I spent all my life (till 5 years ago) in block 19, very near to Zafar Library. I was living in 609/19, and even went to Zafar Library for tutions back in 1978. Zafar was actually the eldest son of Master sb (dont know the name, he was headmaster of Allam Iqbal school at sohrab goth. Later Zafar also became the headmast. We plaed together with Zafar, Ather & Kashif (who was my of my age).
Those were really good time, when all the children used to play fearlessly and without any tension. Normally the gates of houses were open, and yes you are right, we all know each other.
Great time we spent there.
you didnt mention about noorani masjid adjacent to same Alnoor ground and also about Alnoor Gymkhana and Evershine ground. Also missed famous Bus No. 5 and 2D last stop.
very good work.
Zubair.
Zubair. Nice to see your comment. Yes I remember ‘Zafar library.’ The reason i remember is because I’ve played lots of cricket in the cricket ground right across it. Every time a bowler used to bowl a loose ball, it invariably went to the roof of ‘Zafar library’ because it used to be right at deep mid-wicket or square boundary depending on which end of the pitch you were batting on.
Therefore if anyone bowled a loose ball and if the batsman missed it then we used to taunt the batsman by saying ‘Abay – ye to Zafar library waali baal thi. miss kardi?”
:)
Dear Owais Bhai,
Assalam o Alaikum,
I found this sites today thru goggle, and saw and read your research about Federal b Area. Awesome work and details.
Bring back lots of memories about the area. I spent my childhood in Block 1, before coming to Canada in 1977.
May be you want to add/update a few things about Block 1, only if you would like to:
1. The area of Block 1 which start from 10 number choraha, start with Al-Azam square to Liaqatabad railway station and from shahira e pakistan to ghareebabad is popular SHAREEFABAD.
2. Al-azam square in Block 1 is a land mark as it was the first apartment complex in Karachi. The Famous Manama Bakery was located in Al-azam sq. Block 1.
3. Famous Drama writer Khawaja MoinUddin (Taleem e balghan, lal qile se lalukhet tak fames) residence was at Block 1.
Hope this will add some more interest to your visitors.
Once again, excellent work.
Mohamad Saadat Khan
continuation, memories of
Shareefabad, Block 1 Federal B Area:
- famous writer Khawaja Moin uddin and Aziz Cartonist were our neighbours in R- section of block 1
- Qazi Wajid (raja of khuda ki basti), Ibne Safi (of Imran series novels), and Dilawar Figaar (comedy shair) lived there for some time.
- ground across from the Liaqatabad railway station, where current Police station is, my brothers used to run the Mansoora Cricket Club.
- Ravi Gymkhanna cricket club used to be at the current Mohajir park in Shareefabad. Still remeber the chukkays ‘sixes’ by Thekedaar (Maqsood Ahmed); the whole neighbourhood used to come and watch the ‘sixes’ of ‘Thekedaar’.
Saadat Khan