What is Karachi like?

Karachi is to Pakistan what Pakistan is to the rest of the world – a place of contradictions! It is a really difficult task when one has to explain this city to a person who has only been exposed to it via the media.

However, deep down, I enjoy this task.

So on one Friday morning when there was not much work to do, I received a question from an anonymous blogger asking:

What is Karachi like?

Instead of sending a brief textual reply, I did this:

Well...

Karachi is lame,

Photo: ONLYINPAKISTAN.TUMBLR.COM

Yet it makes sense.

Photo: Humans of Karachi/Citizens Archive Pakistan

Karachi is serious,



Yet it knows how to smile.

Photo: Humans of Karachi/Citizens Archive Pakistan

Karachi is cheap,



Yet it is fancy.



Karachi is conservative,



Yet it is open minded.



Karachi is orthodox,



Yet it is contemporary.



Karachi is dirty,



Yet it is beautiful.



Karachi is crowded,



Yet it is peaceful.



Karachi is backward,



Yet it is modern.



Karachi is dangerous,



Yet it is safe.



Karachi is old,



Yet it is new.



Karachi is all sorts of things!

Karachi is love.

Photo: Humans of Karachi/Citizens Archive Pakistan

Karachi is compassion.

Photo: Humans of Karachi/Citizens Archive Pakistan

Karachi is endurance.

Photo: Humans of Karachi/Citizens Archive Pakistan

Karachi is bizarre.

Photo: Humans of Karachi/Citizens Archive Pakistan

Karachi is patriotism.

Photo: Humans of Karachi/Citizens Archive Pakistan

Karachi is chai (tea).

Photo: Humans of Karachi/Citizens Archive Pakistan

Karachi is paan.



Karachi is so many things that I can go on forever!

The city of lights has a roller coaster journey for anyone who wants to explore this metropolis and all its contrasting beauty.

Check this page for more on this beautiful city.

PHOTOS: CITIZENS ARCHIVE OF PAKISTAN, HUMANS OF KARACHI AND THE INTERNET

This post originally appeared here.