Karachi is the capital city of the Sindh province of Pakistan. With a population of over 20 million, it is the largest city in Pakistan and one of the largest in the world. Being the economical hub of Pakistan, Karachi hosts numerous buildings and structures of varied architectural styles. The downtown districts of Saddar and Clifton contain early 20th-century architecture, ranging in style from the neo-classical KPT building to the Sindh High Court Building. Karachi acquired its first neo-Gothic or Indo-Gothic buildings when Frere Hall, Empress Market and St. Patrick's Cathedral were completed. The Mock Tudor architectural style was introduced in the Karachi Gymkhana and the Boat Club. Neo-Renaissance architecture was popular in the 19th century and was the architectural style for St. Joseph's Convent (1870) and the Sind Club (1883). The classical style made a comeback in the late 19th century, as seen in Lady Dufferin Hospital (1898) and the Cantt. Railway Station.
While Italianate buildings remained popular, an eclectic blend termed Indo-Saracenic or Anglo-Mughal began to emerge in some locations. The local mercantile community began acquiring impressive structures. Zaibunnisa Street in the Saddar area (known as Elphinstone Street in British days) is an example where the mercantile groups adopted the Italianate and Indo-Saracenic style to demonstrate their familiarity with Western culture and their own. The Hindu Gymkhana (1925) and Mohatta Palace are examples of Mughal revival buildings. The Sindh Wildlife Conservation Building, located in Saddar, served as a Freemasonic Lodge until it was taken over by the government. There are talks of it being taken away from this custody and being renovated and the Lodge being preserved with its original woodwork and ornate wooden staircase.
Architecturally distinctive, even eccentric, buildings have sprung up throughout Karachi. Notable example of contemporary architecture include the Pakistan State Oil Headquarters building. The city has examples of modern Islamic architecture, including the Aga Khan University hospital, Grand Jamia Mosque, Masjid e Tooba, Faran Mosque, Baitul Mukarram Mosque, Quaid's Mausoleum, and the Textile Institute of Pakistan. One of the unique cultural elements of Karachi is that the residences, which are two- or three-story townhouses, are built with the front yard protected by a high brick wall. I. I. Chundrigar Road features a range of tall buildings. The most prominent examples include the Habib Bank Plaza, UBL Tower, PRC Towers, PNSC Building and MCB Tower.
Many of Pakistan's tallest buildings are located in Karachi. Newer skyscrapers are being built in Clifton. At least 50 buildings in Karachi that stand at least 150 metres (490 feet) tall were under construction in 2022.
This is a list of the tallest buildings in Karachi
Tallest buildings Building Height Floors Year Location Notes Bahria Icon Tower 68 2021 Clifton Pakistan's current tallest skyscraper, (2014-present). Parsa City Club Towers 35 2025 Clifton Bahria Hotel Tower 45 2021 Clifton Chapal Skymark 50 2020 Civil Lines Emaar Panorama 50 2024 Crescent Bay Emaar The Views 45 2024 Crescent Bay Dolmen City Sky Tower - (West Wing) 42 2019 CliftonDolmen City Sky Tower - (East Wing) 42 2019 Clifton Hoshang Pearl 35 stalled/dead Civil LinesCountry Infinity Tower 34 2025 Clifton KASB Altitude 38 stalled Clifton Bakht Tower 38 2017 Clifton G.M Seaside Residency 34 2024 Clifton Arkadians Tower A 35 2017 DHA Luckyone Tower 1 42 2019 Federal B. Area Luckyone Tower 2 42 2019 Federal B. Area Luckyone Tower 3 42 2024 Federal B. Area Luckyone Tower 4 42 2024 Federal B. Area Grove Residency tower A 36 2024 DHA Marina View Tower 36 2022 Boat Basin H1 Tower 38 2025 DHA Clifton Icon 38 2025 Clifton Metro twin tower 1 32 2018 Clifton Metro twin tower 2 32 2018 Clifton Creek Marina Tower 4 32 2022 DHA Com-3 Tower 1 34 2018 Clifton Com-3 Tower 2 32 2018 Clifton Ocean Towers 30 2013 Clifton Tallest in Pakistan, 2012–2014 Mega G4 Tower 30 2016 Clifton First LEED-certified building in Pakistan Centre Point Tower 29 2013 DHA MCB Tower 29 2005 Downtown Tallest in Pakistan, 2005–2012 70 Riviera 32 2017 Clifton Signature 27 28 2022 DHA MPA Hostel Tower 31 2019 Downtown Pearl Tower 1 30 2019 Crescent Bay Pearl Tower 2 30 2019 Crescent Bay Reef Tower 1 30 2019 Crescent Bay Reef Tower 2 30 2019 Crescent Bay Reef Tower 3 30 2019Crescent Bay Coral Tower 1 28 2018 Crescent Bay Coral Tower 2 28 2016 Crescent Bay A.Q Residency Tower 1 30 2022 Bahria Town A.Q Residency Tower 2 30 2022 Bahria Town A.Q Residency Tower 3 30 2022 Bahria Town Bahria Town Tower 26 2016 P.E.C.H.S (Tariq Road) Creek View Tower 25 2021 Clifton Habib Bank Plaza 24 1963 Downtown Tallest in Asia, 1963–1970 and tallest in Pakistan, 1963-2005UBL Tower 25 2016 Downtown Royal 8 Icon Tower 1 30 2009 Gulshan-e-Iqbal The Center (JS Tower) 30 2016 Downtown Mont Vista 26 2019 North Nazimabad Arkadians tower B 25 2018 DHA The Fusion 25 2022 Clifton Greens Three 25 2024 Clifton Country 8 25 2021 Clifton Sumya Sky View 23 2022 Civil Lines CFTC Tower 23 2018 Clifton La Grande 23 2017 North Nazimabad AA Residencia 23 2025 Gulshan-e-Iqbal Roshan Residencia 23 2025 P.E.C.H.S Royal Tower 1 22 2017 DHA Royal Tower 2 22 2017 DHA BRR Tower 22 2014 Downtown Tai Roshan Residency 22 2018 P.E.C.H.S ASF TOWERS 1 22 2022 Gulzar-e-Hijri ASF TOWERS 2 22 2022 Gulzar-e-Hijri ASF TOWERS 3 22 2022 Gulzar-e-Hijri ACM Tower 22 2018 Clifton SumSum Grand Residency 22 2018 P.E.C.H.S Lords Vista 1 22 2022 Gulzar-e-Hijri (SUPARCO Road) Lords Vista 2 22 2022 Gulzar-e-Hijri (SUPARCO Road) Lords Vista 3 21 2022 Gulzar-e-Hijri (SUPARCO Road) Sawera Residency 21 2025 Clifton King's Icon 21 2025 P.E.C.H.S
Under construction / Proposed & Vision
Building Height Floors Location Year of completion Metro Marina 42 Clifton 202? HSJ Icon 50 Downtown 202? 5 Sky towers 50 Clifton Dominion Twin Towers 40 x 2 Bahria Town 202? Saima Waterfront 40 Crescent Bay 202? Metro Beach Front 40 Crescent Bay 202? The Groove 38 Clifton 202? One Hoshang (HKC TOWERS) 37 Civil Lines 202? Seafront towers 32 Clifton 202? The Orchid 38 Clifton 202? Residential Tower 32 Clifton 202? Indigo Classic 32 Clifton 202? Arabian Sea Tower 30 Clifton 202?
Gallery
See also List of tallest buildings in Pakistan List of tallest buildings in the world List of tallest buildings and structures in South Asia
References