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Karachi

Koel Cafe & Gallery

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Why it matters: artist Noorjehan Bilgrami started Koel in 1977 to revive Pakistan’s fading craft of hand block printing, and her atelier still works with master kaarigars on handloom weaving and natural dyes. The leafy Clifton courtyard now holds a cafe, a serious contemporary art gallery (since 2009) and a shop selling the atelier’s block-printed clothing and textiles. Settle in for a slow courtyard lunch, then browse the current exhibition. Tip: it’s cash only, so come prepared.

Behbud Creations

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Why it matters: run by the Behbud Association, a women’s welfare nonprofit working in Karachi since 1970, this Zamzama shop sells 100% handcrafted pieces made by the women artisans at Behbud’s own production centres – and shop income flows directly back to them. Come for hand-embroidered children’s clothing, home linens and cultural gift items that beat anything at the airport. Tip: it’s an easy stop between the Clifton galleries and Zamzama’s cafes, and there’s a second kiosk at Habitt City on Tipu Sultan Road.

T2F (The Second Floor)

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Why it matters: founded in 2007 by the late activist Sabeen Mahmud under the nonprofit PeaceNiche, T2F is Karachi’s living room for open dialogue – a cafe, bookshop and gallery that has hosted talks, poetry and performances for nearly two decades and still packs the house. Browse the bookshop, then stay for whatever is on that night, from music to neuroscience lectures, over a cup of chai. Tip: the best evenings are event evenings, so check their pages before you go.

Frere Hall

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Frere Hall is Karachi’s grand Venetian-Gothic hall from 1865, built as a town hall and now home to the Liaquat National Library, one of the city’s biggest with over 70,000 books. Don’t skip the ceiling inside — it’s covered by Sadequain’s mural ‘Arz-o-Samawat,’ one of the artist’s last and most celebrated works. The surrounding gardens are a popular spot for an evening stroll. Entry is free (donations welcome); it’s open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm, closed Sunday.

imtiaz super market

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Imtiaz Super Market is a Pakistani retailing store corporation that operates as a chain of hypermarkets. The company operates 11 stores throughout the country. and it has in every area of Karachi,…

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