Timeline of Karachi

4th century BCE

326 BCE Alexander the Great set sail from Manora island in Karachi to Babylonia

8th century

712 CE Muhammad bin Qasim conquers Sindh

10th century

977 to 1524 CE Ghaznavid Empire and then the Delhi Sultanate

11th century

1058 CE Soomra Dynasty Soomro period from 1058 to 1351

14th century

1351 CE Samma Dynasty assumed rule over Sindh

16th century

1526 - 1821 CE Mughal ascendancy (1526–1707), nominal rule by Mughals (1707–1857)

1521 - 1554 CE Arghun dynasty ruled Sindh

1555 - 1612 CE Tarkhan Dynasty controlled Sindh

1568 CE Debal was attacked by the Portuguese Admiral Fernão Mendes Pinto in an attempt to capture or destroy the Ottoman vessels anchored there.

16th century

1612 - 1700 CE – Mughal Emperor Akbar conquers Sindh and ruled it via governors

17h century

1701 to 1783 CE – Kalhora Dynasty ruled Sindh

1783 to 1843 CE – Talpur Dynasty ruled Sindh

Prior to 20th century

1729 - Kalachi-jo Ghote founded.

1838 - Population: 15,000.

1839 - British military occupation begins.

1843 - Town becomes part of colonial British India.

1847

Town becomes part of Sind Division, Bombay Presidency, British India.

Karachi Anglo-Indian School founded.

1852

Municipal Commission established.

Karachi Fair begins.

1854 - Napier Mole built connecting Kiamari Island.

1858 - Agra and Masterman Bank branch established.

1860 - Karachi Chamber of Commerce established.

1861 - St Patrick's High School, Karachi established

Sind, Punjab & Delhi Railway (Kotri-Karachi) begins operating.

1862 - St Joseph's Convent School (Karachi) established

1865 - Frere Hall built.

1868 - St Andrew's Church built.

1871 - Sind Club founded.

1872 -

Karachi Boat Club founded.

Population: 62,384.

1873 - Manora breakwater constructed in harbour.

1878 - Karachi Zoo established.

1881 - Population: 68,332 (town); 5,228 (cantonment).

Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Karachi built

1882 - Sindh Arts College inaugurated.

1885 - Tramway begins operating.

1886

Denso Hall built.

Goa-Portuguese Association established.

1887 - Karach Port Trust opens.

1889 - Empress Market built.

1892 - Merewether Clock Tower built.

1894 - Karachi Parsi Gymkhana established.

1898 - Frere Street Station built.

1900s-1940s

1902 - Karachi Indian Merchants Association founded.

1910 - Young Men's Zoroastrian Association established.

1912 - Karachi Zarthosti Banu Mandal established.

1913

Karachi Electric Supply Company incorporated.

Karachi Race Club established.

1914 - Freemasons Lodge built.

1916 - Sind Quadrangular cricket tournament established.

1920 - Jehangir Kothari Parade inaugurated.

1921 - Population: 216,000.

1923 - Ida Rieu School for blind, deaf, dumb and children with other disabilities was founded

1925 - Hindu Gymkhana built.

1926 - Karachi Rugby Football Club founded.

1927 - Mohatta Palace (residence) built.

1929 - Airstrip active.

1932 - Karachi Municipal Corporation Building inaugurated.

1933

Jamshed Nusserwanjee Mehta becomes mayor.

Karachi Cotton Association incorporated.

Rotary Club established.

1934 - Teakum Dass Vadhumull becomes mayor.

1935 - Qazi Khuda Buksh becomes mayor.

1936

City becomes capital of Sindh Province, British India.

K.B. Aradsher H. Mama becomes mayor.

1937 - Durgha Das B. Adwani becomes mayor.

1938 - Hatim A. Alvi becomes mayor.

1939 - R.K. Sidhwa becomes mayor.

1940

Daily Jang newspaper begins publication.

Lalji Malhootra becomes mayor.

1941

Hashim Gazdar becomes mayor.

Population: 435,000.

Dow Medical College established.

1942

Karachi Cantonment established by British Indian Army.

Soharab K.H.Katrak becomes mayor.

1943 - Shambo Nath Molraaj becomes mayor.

1944 - Yusuf Haroon becomes mayor.

1945

Advani College of Commerce & Economics established.

Manual Musqutta becomes mayor.

1946

Millat Gujarati-language newspaper begins publication.

May: Wishram Das Dewan Das becomes mayor.

Independence

1947

Dawn newspaper begins publication.

University of Sindh founded.

Pakistan Institute of International Affairs headquartered in city.

May: Hakeem Muhammad Ahsan becomes mayor.

Pakistan Navy headquartered in Liaquat Barracks.

1948

January: Pakistan Socialist Party founded.

May: Ghulam Ali Alana becomes mayor.

27 July: City becomes federal capital of Pakistan.

Federal Capital Territory administrative area created (containing Karachi city and surrounding area).

Karachi Stock Exchange and St. Joseph's College for Women founded.

Beech Luxury Hotel built.

Holy Family Hospital, Karachi established

1949 - Civil and Military Gazette Karachi edition begins publication.

1950s-1990s

1950 - Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce & Industry headquartered in city.

1951

University of Karachi established.

National Museum of Pakistan opens in Frere Hall.

Population: 1,126,400 (including military cantonment).

Edhi Foundation headquartered in city.

1952

St. Patrick's College founded.

Nazimabad suburb developed.

1953 - Karachi Municipal Aquarium built.

1954

Pakistan Maritime Museum active.

Mahmoud Haroon becomes mayor.

Hamdard Foundation established.

1955

National Stadium opens.

Al-Haj Malik Bagh Ali becomes mayor.

1956 - Siddique Wahab becomes mayor.

1957 - Karachi Development Authority, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, and Pakistan National Scientific Documentation Centre established.

1958

Federal capital relocated from Karachi to Rawalpindi.

Karachi Press Club established.

S.M. Taufique becomes mayor.

1959 - Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry established.

1961

Adamjee Government Science College and Islamia Science College established.

Aisha Bawany Academy opens.

1962 - Daily News English-language newspaper begins publication.

1963

Habib Bank Plaza built.

Aghaz Urdu-language newspaper begins publication.

Sindh Industrial Trading Estate established.

1964 - Goethe-Institut Karachi active.

1965

Business Recorder newspaper begins publication.

Clifton Fish Aquarium opens.

1966 - Pakistan Navy Engineering College active.

1968 - Bambino Cinema opens.

1969

Karachi Circular Railway begins operating.

Hill Park laid out.

Masjid e Tooba (mosque) built.

1970

Jasarat Urdu-language newspaper begins publication.

Jinnah Mausoleum and Liaquat National Memorial Library constructed.

December: City hosts Islamic Foreign Ministers' conference.

1971 - December: Indo-Pakistani Naval War of 1971.

1972

Karachi labour unrest of 1972

Aziz Bhatti Park developed.

November: Karachi Nuclear Power Plant commissioned.

1973 - Applied Economics Research Centre established at University of Karachi.

1975 - Pakistan Naval Station Mehran (military base) commissioned.

1978

All Pakistan Muttahidda Students Organization founded.

Star Cinema opens in Saddar district.

Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry headquartered in city.

1979 - Abdul Sattar Afghani becomes mayor.

1980

Orangi Pilot Project established.

Defence Housing Society Karachi opens.

1981

City area expands to 730 square miles (from 285 square miles).

Population: 5,437,984.

1985 - Karachi Hilton hotel built.

1986

August: Muttahida Qaumi Movement rally.

5 September: Pan Am Flight 73 hijacked.

December: Pathan-Muhajir conflict.

1987 - VM Art Gallery founded.

1988

Qaumi Akhbar Urdu-language newspaper begins publication.

Farooq Sattar becomes mayor.

Defence Authority Degree College for Men established.

1989 - Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture founded.

1990

Jago Sindhi-language newspaper begins publication.

Pakistan Air Force Museum and Quaid-e-Azam House museum established.

1992 - Jinnah International Airport new terminal built.

1994 - Daily Awam Urdu-language newspaper and Financial Post English-language newspaper begin publication.

1995 - Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology established.

1996

20 September: Politician Murtaza Bhutto killed.

International School established.

1998

Daily Express Urdu-language newspaper begins publication.

Faran Mosque built.

Population: 9,339,023.

2000s

2000

International Defence Exhibition and Seminar begins.

Karachi Central District divided into 4 towns: Gulberg Town, Liaquatabad Town, New Karachi Town, North Nazimabad Town.

Karachi East District divided into 4 towns: Gulshan Town, Korangi Town, Landhi Town, Shah Faisal Town.

Karachi South District divided into 3 towns: Jamshed Town, Lyari Town, Saddar Town.

Karachi West District divided into 4 towns: Baldia Town, Kemari Town, Orangi Town, SITE Town.

Malir District divided into 3 towns: Bin Qasim Town, Gadap Town, Malir Town.

2001

Naimatullah Khan becomes mayor.

Vasl Artists' Collective founded.

Kara Film Festival begins.

2003 - Universe Cineplex opens.

2004 - Karachi Dolphins cricket team formed.

2005

Syed Mustafa Kamal becomes mayor.

National Academy of Performing Arts established.

MCB Tower built.

2007

12 May at least 42 people killed and 140 injured in riots when CJP Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry came to address the city bar association on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Pakistani Supreme Court.

18 October: Bombing of Benazir Bhutto motorcade.

Bagh Ibne Qasim (park) inaugurated.

2008

Peoples' Aman Committee founded in Lyari.

Arts Council Theatre Academy established.

2009

13 December: Bank robbery.

Air pollution in Karachi reaches annual mean of 88 PM2.5 and 290 PM10, much higher than recommended.

2010s

2010

Karachi Literature Festival begins.

Express Tribune English-language newspaper begins publication.

October: Bombing.

2011

Karachi Metropolitan Corporation revived.

22 May: PNS Mehran attack.

September: Floods.

Dolmen Mall Clifton in business.

2012

April: Lyari police operation begins

11 September: Garment factory fire in Baldia Town.

Ocean Tower built.

2013

3 March: Bombing of Shia area in Abbas Town.

26 June: Bombing on Burns Road.

7 August: Bombing in Lyari.

2014

21–22 February: Karachi Children's Literature Festival was held.

2015

3 March: Karachi recognised as the cheapest city in the world by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).