This is the story of Gutter Baghicha, one of the last remaining open spaces in Karachi.

In the past few years the residential areas of Karachi have increasingly been unlawfully commercialized. This has destroyed many residential zones and turned whole areas into commercial districts. Successive master plans have had limited impact influencing development patterns in the city, leaving it unable to cope with the challenges of urban land development.

Divers Reef Karachi offers snorkeling adventure trips to Churna Island. Photographs from one of their more recent trips are up here.

The battering began around 2pm and was laced with claps of thunder that are otherwise rarely experienced in Karachi. By the end of the afternoon, Saddar recorded the most downpour of 40mm and at least nine people were electrocuted to death, including five of one family. From Clifton to Gulistan-e-Jauhar thousands of people got stuck on the roads and there were reports that people were robbed at gunpoint in the traffic jams.

More here.