sindh special

You can do three things in Karachi, the capital of Sindh — shop, eat and spend time on the beach. The mornings are lazy and most of the shops open only by noon. Since salwaar-kurta is the main attire for both genders, it is available in bulk and every corner has a cloth shop. From the soft Pakistani lawn in typical floral prints to karandi, a blend of silk and cotton with a bit of exquisite embroidery, the fabrics are an absolute delight. Leatherwork is another of Karachi’s claim to fame and the beautifully crafted, dirt-cheap mojris in Zainab Bazaar are a must-buy.

If you are one of those who consider food a vital part of holidays, then this is the place for you, provided that you don’t have herbivorous tendencies. Bundoo Khan’s roadside joint has a huge clientele, thanks to its lip-smacking menu of succulent chicken tikka, kebab tikka, khiri tikka and halwa. You may feel that you are somewhere in north India but then there is a hint of foreign flavour, something that is truly Karachi. For those looking for a more sophisticated joint, there’s Barbecue Tonight and its irresistible mutton ribs. Even your craving for sushi can be satiated at Avari Towers and Pearl Continental that serve great Japanese food. Want to have a continental breakfast? Proceed to Okra, Cafe Aylanto, Café Flo or any such place on Zamzama Street.

There are enough cafes but no discotheques or pubs. If you want to party in Karachi, you need to know the right people who can take you to the most happening dos and if they are members of elite clubs like the Boat Club and the Sindh Club, then you don’t need to worry about your Sunday brunch.

It would be better still if you love to spend your evenings crabbing and fishing instead of clubbing. Ten of us climbed into a small boat one evening and spent the next few hours fishing and barbecuing the catch. Add to that bowling at Area 51 and yachting, and you really have enough to do on a weekend.

For those who love to visit the must-see places listed on every travel book, there is the historical Mazar-e-Quaid Museum, the National Museum of Pakistan, Teen Talwar, Masjid-e-Touba, one of the largest domed structures in Pakistan, and the Quaid-e-Azam bazaar. And wherever you go, you will be surrounded by people curious about India.

George Bernard Shaw famously said that “I dislike feeling at home when I am abroad”. If you don’t subscribe to that and would not mind a little bit of home while holidaying, take the flight to Karachi.