Gizri

Gizri,, is a fishing village close to Clifton Beach, on the Arabian Sea, in Karachi, Pakistan.

History

Gizri, a 250-year-old fishing village now part of Clifton and administered by the Cantonment Board Clifton, has a rich cultural and historical legacy. Originally home to Sindhi-speaking fisherfolk since 1760. These Sindhi fishermen still reside in a neighborhood named ‘Machhi Para’ and they are the oldest inhabitants of this locality. The area has evolved into a neighborhood known for its intellectuals and scholars.
The name "Gizri" is believed to have evolved from the Urdu word "Guzz," meaning "courtyard." Many 19th-century buildings in Karachi were constructed using the renowned Gizri stone - a historical hallmark that endures. This distinctive stone, a limestone, also widely used for gravestones, inspired the notion of a "Guzz" - a courtyard of stone.

Area's major ethnic groups

Like most areas in urban Karachi there are also several Ethnic [groups in Pakistan|ethnic groups] living in Gizri including, Sindhis, Pashtuns, Punjabis, Brahuis, Kashmiris, Seraikis, Balochs, Memons and Gujaratis.

Location within Karachi city

Gizri is located near the Gizri Creek close to the famous Clifton Beach on the Arabian Sea coast.

Gizri Flyover (also known as the Gizri Bypass)

Gizri Flyover was developed merely to connect the vehicular traffic of an upper-class residential area viz DHA Karachi to the rest of the city by flying over a low-income or ‘informal settlement’ viz Gizri that falls in between. Gizri Flyover was built so that DHA Karachi residents could ‘escape’ the traffic congestion in the Gizri Market area. Gizri Flyover length is 1.2 km, and was built for Rs 600 million in the year 2009.