At Jetty

By Saba Jalil, Atif Ahmed Daudpotta, Tayyaba Mustafa, Fozia Ibrahim and Samia Shezad.

June, 2022.

Always crowded with locals, Natives Jetty at the west wharf on Tamizuddin Khan Road in Karachi is a place for for swimming, boating, fishing, and feeding birds - a place for outing,

History of Bridge:

The improvement of Karachi Harbour was first raised by Sir Charles Napier in 1843. Under his administration the "Napier" Mole was carried out. The object of this work was to connect the Island of Keamari to the mainland by a broad roadway, and thus to facilitate communication between Karachi and the harbour. The Mole was completed in 1850.

Napier Mole, ry bridge (ca. 1910), Ed. Rewachand Motumal & Sons, Karachi

Sir Charles Napier also initiated a timber pile pier at Keamari for native craft and lighters, and this work was completed in 1853 when Mr. Bartle Frere was Commissioner in Sind. Mr. Free after a protracted discussion and enquiry with local officers, brought the question of Harbour Improvements before the Home Improvements Home Government which resulted in the reference in 1856 of the whole subject by the Directors of the Honourable East India Company to Mr. Walker, C. E. an eminent Harbour and Hydraulic Some port development works were also effected during the sixties, The construction of Keamari Groyne was commenced in November, 1861 and completed in early 1863 The East Pier, a continuation of the groyne, was then constructed between April, I864 and November. 1865 These two measures afforded protection to the harbour against encroachment from the sea and the tides.

In 1865 the Napier Mole was cut and a bridge was constructed across the opening. The opening enabled the waters of the Chini Creek to flow uninterruptedly to the head of the harbour to serve as Scour.

The harbour had been protected by the construction of the Keamari Groyne in 1863 but the ships lying anchor were exposed to strong waves aroused by the south-west monsoon. To provide protection to the anchored ships by breaking the force of the waves, the construction of the Manora Breakwater in continuation of Manora Point was undertaken in 1870 and was completed in 1874. In 1882 the Merewether Pier was constructed to herth large ocean-going ships, and the Erskine Wharf and the James Wharf with three berths each were completed in 1888 and 1895 respectively.

In 1997, Jinnah Bridge was build over Napier Mole Bridge, which was build in during British Raj. Old bridge had been converted in to food street, known as Port Grand Food and Entertainment Complex in 2011.

Jinnah/Native Jetty Bridge: One of the oldest bridge, also known as Napier Mole Bridge, connects the city with the Port of Karachi. . Photo by Saba Jalil.

The Jetty is notorious for suicides as well.

The Jinnah Bridge or Native Jetty Bridge, build to connect port with city in 1997 is where people jump off in to the sea to end their lives. Rescuers - people at jetty- have many stories to tell. 60 years old Ahmed has witnessed many suicides' and suicides' attempt, said that one day a man jumped off. "We saved him as soon as we saw him. He was suiciding because his kids asked him to leave the house and do something on his own for his living."

"An officer’s son committed suicide here, year ago. His dead body was found from mangroves by us, next day, " said Ahmed. "Police didn’t let anyone came into it not even media because he was a son of an officer. Other stories goes to media, just like that woman along with her kids was jumping, this Ramadan due to financial problems at home."

That family was saved by the Port Grand’s team as people dining there started shouting. The team was rewarded later by the government. According to Native Jetty’s people, they have been saved hundreds of life’s over there but never got any appreciation from the government.