Afghanistan is our neighbouring country with whom almost every Pakistani is familiar when it comes to living, culture, traditions, food and other things. If you want to relive the Afghani culture, you don’t need to visit Kabul, Al-Asif Square in Karachi is the place to visit. The area is known as mini Afghanistan in Karachi.
Thousands of Afghanis, migrated to Pakistan’s economic hub, Karachi, in the 1980s decade, after the Soviet Union’s departure from Kabul. Pakistan’s military government at that time allowed three spots for Afghanis from which Al-Asif Square is one of the main hub of Afghanis in Karachi.
Qari Muhammad Younis Bukhari, one of the shopkeepers, selling clothes in Karachi’s Al-Asif Square said he is running this shop since 1982 after his family migrated to Karachi from Afghanistan. He said that the market is famous and all the stuff regarding Afghan culture is easily available there.
Replying to a question, Bukhari said the law and order were disturbed in 1980s decade but now the situation is stable everyone can visit the market and enjoy Afghan food, clothes and other things. He said Afghan embroidered clothes are famous in the market and are liked by people of Hyderabad, Peshawar, Karachi and other parts of Karachi.
He also complained about hte lack of cleanness measures and urged hte authorities to tke notice of the matter.
Another shopkeeper named Syed Humayun said he is running his business of selling bags in a peaceful atmosphere and he is a Pathan.
