Malir Town

Malir Town () is one of the 18 towns of Karachi City, located in the eastern part of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Malir town is bordered by the Jinnah International Airport and the Malir Cantonment to the west and north, the Malir River and Shah Faisal Town to the south and Gadap Town to the east across the Thado Nallo stream. Malir has been regarded in history as the countryside of Karachi City due to its open atmosphere and lush green farms, but now these are no more.

There are several ethnic groups in Malir Town including Muhajirs, Punjabis, Sindhis, Kashmiris, Seraikis, Pakhtuns, Balochis, Memons, Bohras, Ismailis, etc. Over 99% of the population is Muslim. The population of Malir Town is estimated to be over one million.

Malir was once famous for its fruit and vegetable farms, but now due to severe scarcity of groundwater these farmlands are being converted into residential areas, thus increasing urbanization and environmental degradation. The Society for Conservation and Protection of Environment (SCOPE) has been concerned about drought and desertification in Malir district and has launched a campaign against illegal sand and gravel mining in dry river beds of Malir and its tributaries. Because sand and gravel mining cause lowering of ground water, as rainwater can cannot percolate in the aquifer. SCOPE is developing rainwater reservoirs in drought affected rural areas.

If aquifer in Malir can be recharged enough by storing rain run off water, it can restore greenbelts...
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