Mithadar () is one of the neighbourhoods of Saddar Town in

Karachi Karachi is the capital city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Sindh, Pakistan. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, largest city in Pakistan and 12th List of largest cities, largest in the world, with a popul ...

Sindh Sindh ( ; ; , ; abbr. SD, historically romanized as Sind (caliphal province), Sind or Scinde) is a Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Pakistan. Located in the Geography of Pakistan, southeastern region of the country, Sindh is t ...

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

, and comprises the oldest part of Karachi that was once encircled by a wall. Mithadar and the adjacent community of Kharadar together form what is regarded as the original core of Karachi.

Etymology

'Mithadar' literally means ''Sweet Gate'' in both Sindhi and

Hindi Modern Standard Hindi (, ), commonly referred to as Hindi, is the Standard language, standardised variety of the Hindustani language written in the Devanagari script. It is an official language of India, official language of the Government ...

, in reference to the potable, non-saline waters of the Lyari River.

Location

The neighborhood is bordered by Kharadar, Jodia Bazar, and Lyari Town across Embankment Road. The area also at one time was on the banks of the Lyari River, until it shifted course in the 19th century. The combined area of Mithadar and Kharadar is approximately 35 square kilometers.

History

'Mithadar' literally means ''Sweet Gate'' in both Sindhi and

Urdu Urdu (; , , ) is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in South Asia. It is the Languages of Pakistan, national language and ''lingua franca'' of Pakistan. In India, it is an Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of Indi ...

, and was the name of one of two gates in old Karachi - the other being "Khara Darwaza" (Brackish Gate) to the west - now known as Kharadar. Both gates were built in 1729, and were torn down in 1860 after the British conquered Sindh 13 years earlier. Together with the adjoining community of Kharadar, it forms what is regarded as the original core of Karachi, when the city was known as "Kalachi Jo Goath."

Economy

Mithadar was once the epicenter of Karachi's business community before the arrival of the British prompted businessmen to migrate directly east and south to the areas of Saddar, Cantonment, and Bolton Markets. The area is known for its many textile markets that are located in Mithader and the adjoining communities of Kharadar and Bolton Market. The area was once home to a thriving Hindu business community prior to the

independence Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state, in which residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory. The opposite of independence is the status of ...

of Pakistan. Up until independence, the area was a Hindu majority area - a legacy which is still reflected in major street names such as Chandan Mukhi Lane, and Vishramdas Sukhramdas Street. At the eastern end of the neighborhood begins Rampart Row, where elaborate examples of 20th century Sikh and Hindu architecture can still be found. The area is still home to the Devi Mata and Bhagnari Shiv temples.

References

External links