Karachi Zoological Garden

The zoo has a Reptile House which exhibits 13 species of snakes and lizards along with hatchlings of turtles and crocodiles. It also houses a Natural History Museum which contains preserved animals and is a place where people can come in and study the animals.

There is also a Mughal garden where there are beautiful roses surrounding fountains that lead to a structure straight from the Mughal era.

An Indian elephant named Anarkali was an Indian elephant who brought the zoo fame for six decades. She died on July 19, 2006.

The railway station has 11 platforms (1 to 9, with 2 extra platforms, 3A and 6A). Platform No. 1 is of special importance, as this platform is the destination of “Samjhauta Express”, the train service between Pakistan and India.

History

Lahore railway station was commissioned by the British Government and construction was contracted to Main Mohammad Sultan Chagatai, a formal prince of the Royal Mughal Empire. The front portion was disliked by the government (as seen in older photographs) and was subsequently rebuilt by Sultan Mohd. from his own pocket.
Facilities

The Lahore railway station has all the facilities which a large station like it must possess. Food stalls, book agencies, drink corners, and the like are found on every platform. Some foreign restaurants (like McDonald’s and Pizza Hut) have their branches at platform No. 2

The SBP library has a rich collection of books, technical reports, Government documents, periodicals and magazines mainly relating to the subjects of Economics, Banking, Finance, Management, Commerce, etc. Besides, sufficient reading material on Islam (in English, Urdu, Arabic, and Persian languages) and literary works in National and Regional languages are also available in the library. Over the years, the library has grown into one of the biggest and well-stocked libraries of the country on these subjects. The library facilities have been so designed that the latest as well as archival materials on the subjects related to Economics, banking, finance and allied subjects are readily within easy access of the readers. In addition to printed resources, the library provides online access to research journals and a host of digital resources to the readers, and provides the adequate modern facilities and services to its readers in a very friendly & conducive environment.

Before 1887 not a single Sindhi had been able to obtain a Master’s Degree or any degree in Science. Looking far ahead of his time, and realising the need for, and the great value of, higher education for Sindhis, Diwan Dayaram Jethmal, a prominent philanthropic Sindhi gentleman, bestirred himself, and collecting a band of some of the leading citizens of Karachi approached the Government with a strong appeal for the establishment of a College in Karachi to be affiliated to the University of Bombay. Undaunted by all the difficulties which were put in their way they succeeded in impressing upon the Citizens of Karachi and the people of Sindh the urgent need for a College and soon collected a sum of money equal to more than three times that asked for by the Government.

On the 17th January 1887 the cherished dream of this noble band of selfless Sindhis came to fruition. His Excellency Lord Reay, then Governor of Bombay, formally opened the College in a bungalow in the Thattai compound on Bunder road. In April 1887 the College shifted to the place on Bunder, which the Sindhi Gymkhana was later situated, and was housed in three two-storeyed bungalows. It was there from 1889 to 1892 when is shifted to its present site. Originally called the Sindh Arts College, its name was changed to Dayaram Jethmal Sindh College in memory of the gentleman, but for whose vision and persistent efforts this passed away in the very first year of its existence.

Government-aided, it was run by a board. It began with five professors and twenty-eight on its rolls. Dr. R. M. Walmsley. D.Sc., was its first Principal. He came expecting it to be a technical college teaching the useful arts, and was disappointed to find it to be teaching the humanities. So he stayed for just a short while on the 14thNovember 1887.

The building was completed by 1892 and formally opened by Mr. H. E. James, then Commissioner-in-Sindh on the 15th October 1892.

The College building cost Rs. 186,000. A veritable Palace of learning, it is a two storied building situated on a plot of land measuring 16,485 sq. yards, presented for the purpose by Govrnment. It was erected under the supervision of Mr. J. Strachan, M.I.C.Q., engineer and Secretary of the Karachi Municipality.

Later, however, the open spaces were occupied by a host of small cabin shops, which surrounded the market on three of its sides. Today, there are hundreds of shops which sell and incredible variety of goods. Because of its central location and reasonable priced merchandise, the market is frequented by people from all walks of life. Although the market has not been well looked after, it retains its nineteenth century flavor. You will be amazed at the range of goods available here—for every imaginable item is on sale here. Anything that you cannot find elsewhere will be found in this remarkably alive and bustling market place. Among the favorites are the spice halls displaying mountains of spices, dried fruit and nuts displayed for effect.

The historic Empress Market is worth a visit, event if you are not interested in purchasing rare vegetable or fruit, freshly ground wheat, maize or gram flour, freshest of fish. You will find coolies (qulli) prepared to carry your purchases, at a small fee.

In 1974, An Annexe Building on the North-East side of the compound of the High Court was constructed at a cost of Rs. 4.4 Millions but it did not ease the situation much, for it is accommodating the offices of this Court and also provides office accommodation for the Secretary, Ministry of Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Standing Counsel, Official Assignee, Special Banking Court, Registry of the Federal Shariat Court and Singh Bar Council.