History of Karachi

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Part of a series on the
History of Karachi
Prehistoric period
Mulri Hills
Ancient period
Allahdino Pir Shah Jurio
Classical period
Krokola Minnagara Barbarikon Debal Banbhore
Islamic period
Muhammad bin Qasim
Local dynasties
Samma dynasty Kalhora dynasty Talpur dynasty
British period
Sind Division Sind Province
Independent Pakistan
Federal Capital Territory Sindh Province 1972 labour unrest Demographics Violence
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The area of Karachi (Urdu: کراچی, Sindhi: ڪراچي) in Sindh, Pakistan has a natural harbor and has been used as fishing port by local fisherman belonging to Sindhi tribes since prehistory. Archaeological excavations have uncovered a period going back to Indus valley civilisation which shows the importance of the port since the Bronze Age. The port city of Banbhore was established before the Christian era which served as an important trade hub in the region, the port was recorded by various names by the Greeks such as Krokola, Morontobara port, and Barbarikon, a sea port of the Indo-Greek Bactrian kingdom and Ramya according to some Greek texts.^[1] The Arabs knew it as the port of Debal, from where Muhammad bin Qasim led his conquering force into Sindh (the western corner of South Asia) in AD 712. Lahari Bandar or Lari Bandar succeeded Debal as a major port of the Indus; it was located close to Banbhore, in modern Karachi. The first modern port city near Manora Island (now Manora Peninsula) was established during British colonial Raj in the late 19th century.