Karachi, Pakistan » City Info

Karachi is the financial capital of Pakistan and the capital city of Sindh Province. The city has been much admired since British colonial times for its location and economic potential. Karachi is one of the most populated cities globally and a major seaport to the otherwise landlocked country of Pakistan. The love and admiration by the people of Karachi to Quaid-i-Azam ("Great Leader") and Baba-i-Qaum ("Father of the Nation"), Muhammad Ali Jinnah is visible all over the city in different monuments, buildings and landmarks associated & named after him. Karachi is also well known for the nearby archaeological sites at Thatta, Mohenjo-Daro and Kot Diji.

Top Karachi FAQ's

Q.1) When is the best time to visit Karachi?
Ans: The best time to visit Karachi is during winter from December through February, when the climate is pleasant and ideal to visit all the vantage points.

Q.2) Karachi is located in which region of Asia?
Ans: Karachi is located in the south of Pakistan, on the coast of the Arabian Sea.

Q.3) In which time zone is Karachi placed? Does it observe daylight saving?
Ans: The Standard time zone for Karachi is UTC/GMT +5 hours. No daylight saving is observed.

Q.4)What is the official language of Karachi? Will an English speaking tourist face any problems in the city?
Ans: The languages of Pakistan include two official languages: Urdu, its national language, and English, which is the working language. So, tourists won't face any problems communicating with locals as they are well versed in English.

Q.5) I am coming to Karachi with my laptop, do malls, and public areas offer wireless internet access?
Ans: There are several Wi-Fi hotspot areas in Pakistan, including malls, shopping centres, cafes & restaurants. Business districts & streets like Shahra-e-Faisal or I.I.Chundrigar Road have free Wi-Fi throughout the area.

Q.6) How efficient are the public pay booths in Karachi?
Ans: Public pay booths are found all over Karachi, most of them in general stores. The store owner or attendant operates the booth, charging the call depending on the time spent.

Q.7) In restaurants, what tipping practices are followed?
Ans: Tipping is included in the bills of restaurants as a service charge; therefore is not mandatory. However, if it is not included, expect to pay 5% to 10% tip, which could vary from restaurant to restaurant. Bell porters who handle the luggage expect 100 Pakistani rupees as a tip, while a taxi hired for a couple of days could ask for anything from 200-300 Pakistani rupees. Tipping is known as 'baksheesh' in the local language.

Q.8) What are the visa requirements for Pakistan?
Ans: Please visit our visa requirements page for more details.

Q.9) What is the electricity voltage in Karachi?
Ans: The electricity voltage in Karachi is 240V. Travellers from UK, North America, Central and South America, Middle East and Europe will need to bring along adapters/voltage transformers.

Q.10) In case of emergency, whom should I call/contact?
Ans: Emergency numbers are:
Ambulance: 115
Fire Brigade Centre: 16
Police Emergency: 15