Shah Waliullah Junaidi
Shah Waliullah Junaidi is a Pakistani journalist, researcher and author known for his work on the social and urban history of Karachi. He is the author of several books, including Karachi: Untold Stories of City's Streets, Shikasta Tehzeeb and Non-Muslim Cricketers of Karachi.
Early life and education
Junaidi was born in Karachi, Sindh, on 8 January 1966. According to an Urdu biographical profile, he received his early education in Karachi, graduated with a Bachelor of Science from SM Science College, and later earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Karachi.Career
Junaidi worked in print and electronic journalism for more than thirty years. He has written regular columns and feature articles for the Urdu daily Jang, focusing on Karachi's history, neighbourhoods and social issues.He has appeared on Pakistani news and discussion programmes, including interviews on BOL News, to discuss the decline in book reading culture and the historical development of Karachi.
Writing and research
Much of Junaidi's writing centres on Karachi's urban history and cultural memory. His early books include Karachi, Nisf Sadi Ka Qissa and Yeh Shahrah-i-Aam Nahin, which explore the transformation of the city's neighbourhoods and streets.In 2022, he published Karachi: Untold Stories of City's Streets, an English-language work documenting the history and evolution of Karachi’s roads and localities.
His 2023 Urdu work Shikasta Tehzeeb: Nazimabad aur North Nazimabad – Tareekh, Shakhsiaat, Waaqeyaat was launched at the Karachi Press Club.
In 2025, Junaidi's book Non-Muslim Cricketers of Karachi: A Journey Through Karachi's Forgotten Cricketing Heroes was released. The book documents the history of non-Muslim cricketers from Karachi.
Reception
Junaidi's work has received critical attention in Pakistan's mainstream press. Reviewing his writings on Karachi, Dawn described him as a senior journalist and researcher, highlighting the depth of his archival research and his sustained effort to document the city's social and urban history.His book Non-Muslim Cricketers of Karachi: A Journey Through Karachi's Forgotten Cricketing Heroes was reviewed by several independent outlets. Writing in Dawn, reviewers discussed the book's contribution to recording an overlooked aspect of the city's sporting past. The News on Sunday examined the work's historical and social context, noting its exploration of Karachi's plural sporting culture. The Friday Times also reviewed the book, situating it within broader discussions of the city's cricketing history and diversity.