Business Overview
Karachi is majorly known as the financial and banking capital of
Pakistan as most of its public and private banks have their head offices
in the city. It is also home to the largest stock exchange of Pakistan-
Karachi Stock Exchange, which usually becomes one of the prime reasons
for Pakistan's GDP growth. Last but not the least, Karachi also hosts
the offices of almost every major foreign multinational corporation as
well as corporations based in Pakistan.
Being the principal seaport the city has promptly grown to become the
largest industrial and trade center of Pakistan therefore making it a
major point for national exports and sea borne trade of neighbouring
countries. With several large industrial zones located on the fringes,
Karachi surely is a huge industrial base. The primary sectors being
textiles, pharmaceuticals, steel automobiles and footwear.
Karachi recently has emerged as a software-outsourcing hub of Pakistan.
The ever-growing ICTs (Information & Communications Technology),
electronic media and call centers have become a significant part of
Karachi's business hierarchy. In order to gain foreign investments in
the IT sector, government is making continuos efforts to encourage more
foreign companies to set up their call centers. Further most of Pakistans
independent television and radio channels are headquartered in Karachi.
Karachi has its own expo center that hosts many regional and
international exhibitions. The Karachi Expo Center is one of the most
important event venues of Pakistan hosting versatile shows like IGATEX
Textile and Auto Asia.
Major Business Centers
Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE):
KSE is the biggest and most liquid exchange of Pakistan and was also
declared as the Best Performing Stock Market of the World for the
year 2002. Today the Stock Exchange is into the 4th year of being
one of the Best Performing Markets of the world as declared by the
international magazine Business Week, US newspaper and USA.
The Stock Exchange trades KSE-100 Index that is a highly
diversified index of 100 largest capitalization companies' stocks from
all sectors of Pakistan economy.
Karachi Expo Center:
Located in the commercial capital of Pakistan, Karachi Expo Center is
one the most important venue of the country. It is made up of two
independent but linked halls measuring 6690 m2. Where one floor houses
the press & secretarial services, a large modern kitchen and a
cafeteria, the second floor is available for conferences/seminars for a
sizeable gathering.
Karachi being cosmopolitan adds flavour for international marketing for
Karachi Expo Center.
Major Commercial Areas
Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar Road (I. I. Chundrigar Road):
Situated in the heart of Karachi, the road is the financial
headquarters of Pakistan. Formerly known as McLeod Road, it was later
renamed after the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Ibrahim Ismail
Chundrigar.
Most of the headquarters of Pakistan's financial institutions are
located on this street including the State Bank of Pakistan, Habib Bank
Plaza, MCB Tower, National Bank of Pakistan, Bank Al-Falah, Standard
Chartered Bank, CitiBank and many more.
Besides possessing Karachi Stock Exchange and Karachi Cotton Exchange,
Chundrigar also houses Pakistan's most circulated newspapers
office- Jung.
This road also has some of the finest architecture from the early
period of Karachi like State Bank, City Railway Station and other
administrative office buildings.
Zamzama Commercial Area:
Famous for its designer outlets and cafes, Zamzama is another
commercial road of karachi. It continues with Khayaban-e-Shaheen on one
side and ends at 'Two Talwar' on the other.
Zamzama also has its own system of streets and lanes, known as
'Commercial lanes' (not to be confused with the commercial lanes in
Phase IV).
Major Manufacturing Zones
Port Qasim:
Port Muhammad Bin Qasim is the first industrial and multi-purpose deep
sea port of Pakistan with a commercial cum-industrial park.
The port offers many activities like handling of commercial shipping
and trade, warehousing, transshipment and transit trade of neighbouring
countries and development of entrepot trade. The area also provides
facilities like establishment of industries and commercial enterprises
drawing on international markets for supply of inputs and for sale of
output and development of tourism through leisure resorts and motels.
The port possesses an Export Processing Zone (EPZ) established by the
Government to facilitate and promote exports from Pakistan.
One of its major advantages beside others is its proximity to Jinnah
International Airport i.e. just 22 km away.
Location: Bin Qasim Town