Karachi Port Trust Building: George Wittet Landmark on MA Jinnah Road

The Karachi Port Trust Building is the yellow-stone headquarters of the port authority on Muhammad Ali Jinnah Road in Kharadar, designed by the architect George Wittet and inaugurated on 5 January 1916. It is a working government office rather than a museum, so most visitors see it from the street, as one stop on a walk through the old city.

This short guide covers its history, what makes the design distinctive, what you can see without going inside, and how to fit it into a visit to Kharadar.

What is the Karachi Port Trust Building?

It is the head office of Karachi Port Trust (KPT), the body that administers the Port of Karachi. The port itself dates from the mid-19th century: KPT's own history says the main navigation channel was dredged and a causeway built in 1854, and that by 1899 Karachi was the largest wheat and cotton exporting port in South Asia. A grand headquarters followed as the port grew.

According to KPT, the building was completed in 1915 at a cost of Rs 974,990, and Lord Willingdon inaugurated it on 5 January 1916. Wikipedia gives the start of construction as 1912. During the First World War it was converted into a 500-bed military hospital, which it remained until 1919, and it was later returned to port use.

Who was George Wittet?

George Wittet (1878 to 1926) was a Scottish architect who went to India in 1904 and became one of the best-known designers working in the Indo-Saracenic style, a blend of European and Indian elements. In Bombay he designed the Gateway of India and the Prince of Wales Museum, now the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya. The Karachi Port Trust Building is his best-known work in what is now Pakistan.

It helps to know this because the building sits in a family of Wittet landmarks. If you have seen the Gateway of India, you will recognise the way the design mixes arches and domes with a plain, heavy mass.

What does the building look like?

Wikipedia and KPT both describe the façade as yellowish stone, with Wikipedia naming Jaipur stone. The front is a curved range of arches topped by a large central dome in a Roman manner, and the overall style blends British, Hindu and Gothic influences.

Inside, descriptions mention a great deal of teak, high ceilings, black and white tiled floors and an open-cage wooden lift. The board room is on the second floor beneath the dome, with clocks marked as made by the Elliot Brothers of London. We have not seen the interior and the points above come from published descriptions, so treat them as a guide to what the building has rather than what a visitor will be shown.

Can you go inside?

Probably not as a casual visitor. The building is the working headquarters of a port authority, and we found no published public opening hours, entry fee or guided-tour programme from KPT. Some travel listings call it a public place, but that is not the same as an invitation to walk in, and port premises generally have security checks.

What we suggest:

• Plan to view and photograph the exterior from the street.
• If you want to see the interior, contact KPT in advance and ask whether a visit is possible, as you would for any government office.
• Do not photograph security staff or port installations, and follow any instructions from guards. Rules near port and naval areas can change.

How to visit as part of a Kharadar walk

The building stands on MA Jinnah Road near the Native Jetty Bridge, with the Merewether Clock Tower close by. The tower was built through public subscription, opened in 1892 and stands about 31 metres high, in a neo-Gothic style. It now sits on a busy road junction, so photograph it with care.

A short walk could run like this:

1. Start at the Merewether Clock Tower, an early morning visit when traffic is lighter.
2. Walk to the Karachi Port Trust Building and look at the façade and dome from across the road.
3. Continue into the old city's markets and older streets. Our Karachi heritage walk guide covers a longer route.
4. For other colonial landmarks, see our guides to Frere Hall and Empress Market.

If you want to learn about the port itself, see our Maritime Museum guide, and for the working fishing side of the harbour, the Karachi Fish Harbour guide.

When is the best time to go?

Early on a weekday morning gives the best light on the yellow stone and the least traffic, although offices are open and the road is busy. Winter, from November to February, is the most comfortable season for walking. Sundays are quieter on the road but the office will be closed, which does not matter for viewing the outside. Check our guide to whether Karachi is safe for tourists and stay aware of your surroundings, since this is a crowded commercial district.

Is it worth a stop?

It is worth it if you are interested in colonial architecture or the history of the port, and if you are already in Kharadar. It is not worth a special trip for a few minutes of looking from across the road, and it is not a place to spend an hour. Combined with the clock tower and the old city's streets, it makes a good short stop. More ideas are on our destinations page.

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