Karachi's public watering troughs were constructed mainly during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when animal-drawn transport was central to the movement of people and goods. They supplied water to horses, cattle, and other working animals. Many were donated by local philanthropists and bear inscriptions commemorating their donors or family members.
Several surviving troughs are made from local Gizri stone and combine a practical function with European-influenced architectural style. Their use declined with the expansion of piped water and motorized transport. Many were subsequently demolished, altered, encroached upon or abandoned.
At least 30 watering troughs were built during British Raj. The following list includes documented surviving troughs:
List Existing Name Photo Coordinates Location Notes Shahrah-e-Iran Water Trough Shahrah-e-Iran, Karachi Listed as entry no. 421 in the Government of Sindh heritage schedule.List of Heritage Buildings pg 11 Sindh Building Control Authority, Government of Sindh. Retrieved 14 June 2014 M.A. Jinnah Road Watering Trough M.A. Jinnah Road, Karachi Thakur Morarji Shiv Boda Watering Trough Near Pakistan Chowk It was built by Thakur Valamji Morarji in memory of his father Thakur Morarji Shiv Boda. Pahlajrai Revachand Panjabi Watering Trough Near Merewether Tower, Karachi It was donated by Pahlajrai Revachand Panjabi. Byram Edulji Watering Trough Near Guru Mandir, Karachi It was built in 1893 by Byram Edulji in memory of his parents. Diwan Dayaram Chellaram Mirchandani Watering Trough Baba-e-Urdu Road, formerly Mission Road, near the Civil Hospital, Karachi and Dow University It was built in 1927 by Shrimati Aplibai in memory of her husband, Diwan Dayaram Chellaram Mirchandani, a former city surveyor who died in 1924. Students of Dow Medical College restored it in 1995, and it received another facelift in 2007. Framroze E. Punthakey Watering Trough Soldier Bazaar, Karachi It was built in 1924 and is named after Framroze E. Punthakey who served as the Honorary Secretary General of SPCA between 1878 and 1921. Bahadur Nusserwangi Metha Watering Trough Chand Bibi Road, formerly Princess Street, near Eidgah and Borapir It was erected by the staff of the Nusserwangi Company in memory of Bahadur Nusserwangi Metha. Napier Mole Watering Trough Near Napier Mole Bridge, Karachi It was built in 1900 by Byram Edulji. Nanakwara Garden Watering Trough Nanakwara Garden It was gifted by the Dumb Animals Fund. Former or lost troughs Name or site Location Notes Edulji Dinshaw Dispensary Water Trough Behind the Edulji Dinshaw Dispensary, Saddar Originally constructed by Byram Edulji
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