Bohri Bazaar

Bohri Bazaar is a bazaar located in Saddar Town, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. It is one of the oldest marketplace of Karachi.[1][2]

Bohri Bazaar was once the most famous, congested and probably the only shopping place in Karachi.[1][2]

Bohri Bazaar has historical importnace similar to the Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar.[1][2]

Bohri Bazaar continues on both sides of Raja Ghazanfar Ali road, with about 5,000 shops. The shops were spread over a large area in a maze of narrow streets. Daily visitors are assumed to be approximately 50,000 people visit this place daily and a rough estimate the business activities are in the range of Rs 20 million to Rs 50 million.[1][2]

Incidents

The bazaar has witnessed two horrific disasters:

First one was in 1958 when a huge fire broke out in a fireworks shop. The building, which was mainly made of wood, and another one nearby were burnt beyond recognition. The second incident took place in the 1980s when two bomb blast claimed dozens of innocent lives. The Bohri community also played an important role in reconstructing the market.[1][2]

The 1987 Karachi car bombing were two car bombings in Karachi, Pakistan on 14 July 1987 that killed 200 people.[3] On 14 July 1987, Two vehicles drove into the Bohri Bazaar in Karachi, Pakistan packed with RDX and parked. The first car bomb detonated at about 6:30 pm outside a hairdresser's shop on Syedna Burhanuddin Street near a bus stop destroying eight shops and a hotel. The second car bomb detonated 30 minutes later on Raja Ghazanfar Ali Road which is about 100 yards away from the first car bombing.[4] The car bomb detonated outside a record shop, setting multiple buildings on fire and destroying more dozen cars. The fires from the second car bomb continued burning for four hours. The double car bombing killed 200 people.[3] The Pakistani government blamed the Afghan intelligence agency for the car bombings.[5][6][7]

This blast led Ramzan Chhipa to found Chhipa Welfare Association.[3]

References
  1. "Cultural heritage: Bohri Bazaar – once a most famous thriving marketplace". The Express Tribune. 2015-02-22. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  2. Dawn.com (2011-01-30). "Bohri bazaar: Stepping back in time". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  3. "Round-the-clock rescue facility: 1987 Bohri Bazaar blasts led Ramzan Chhipa to set up service". The Express Tribune. 2013-10-15. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  4. "Bombs in Pakistan kill 67, injure 300". The Chicago tribune wire. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  5. "Bombs Kill 72 and Wound 250 in Pakistani City". Reuters. 15 July 1987. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  6. "BOMB BLASTS IN PAKISTAN FATAL TO 72". Washington post. 15 July 1987. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  7. "Zia accuses 'enemies of Pakistan' of bombing". UPI. 15 July 1987. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
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