Stories by Farooq Soomro

12 stops: A Do-It-Yourself tour of Karachi, Part II

Contrary to popular belief, Pakistan's largest city has a lot of history and landmarks. All you need to do is explore.

Updated 14 Mar, 2017 01:03pm

How my experience of Diwali in Karachi took me to a city I never knew

Anyone who has lived in Karachi for some time would know that the city opens up to its denizens gradually.

Updated 08 Jul, 2019 06:17pm

In the footsteps of Rajas: A journey through the soul of Potohar

The emerald pond at Katas has a mystical aura around it, providing a perfect refuge for hermits seeking salvation.

Updated 13 Apr, 2020 10:07am

An antique market in Karachi's Saddar sells nostalgia

A definite treasure trove. A walk down the memory lane. A refuge for memorabilia.

Published 23 Apr, 2016 01:53pm

Pharwala in ruins — The defeat of South Asia's most invincible fort

Hearing the locals' stories, I realised that all our forts are connected; their ties stained with conflict and blood.

Published 08 Feb, 2016 02:42pm

Symphony city — Discovering Karachi’s oldest music shops

A journey through the city's historic music shops and the stories of those running them.

Updated 07 Nov, 2015 04:17pm

12 stops: A Do-It-Yourself tour of Karachi

Wander along aimlessly down the smog-filled alleys of the old city; the ancient buildings here have stories to tell.

Updated 24 Oct, 2018 02:04pm

Books and baklava: Off the beaten path in Istanbul

When I have a day off from work in Istanbul, I choose to visit places away from the usually crowded attractions.

Updated 01 Sep, 2015 08:52pm

Vroom! Into the graveyard of Vespas we rode...

“A four-wheeler transports the body, while a two-wheeler transports the soul.”

Updated 21 Aug, 2015 07:20pm

From Sado Mazo to Peeplasar – A road less travelled

Dadu in July may not sound tempting, but prehistoric cave paintings and a waterfall in a desert are worth the adventure.

Updated 10 Aug, 2015 10:56pm

A photographer’s Karachi

I always wondered why an ordinary Karachi walla should care about its colonial structures. Now I know.

Updated 19 Nov, 2018 12:09pm

The goddess of wisdom and Maulvi Abdul Haq

The building for 'Anjuman-e-Taraqqi-e-Urdu' was originally a Gujarati school founded by Mahatama Gandhi himself.

Updated 29 Jun, 2015 03:31pm

Finding beauty and happiness in 'barren' Sukkur

Interior Sindh is believed to be barren and isolated,but the area retains traces of the British era and Indus river.

Updated 05 Jun, 2015 02:25pm

Karachi's Nasheman Cinema, surviving against all odds

"The building’s shape is a riddle. We will see if you can figure it out at the end."

Updated 06 May, 2015 06:00pm

Bookless in Saddar: An adventure through time and traffic

Shelley once wrote “Our sweetest songs are those that tell of saddest thought” these words befit Saddar.

Updated 01 May, 2015 02:47pm

Khairpur's unexplored marvels

The decaying condition of these monuments is a grim reminder of the prevalent sad state of affairs in Sindh.

Updated 31 Dec, 2018 01:55pm

Guddu: The last of lollywood aficionados

An avid collector of Pakistani Cinema memorabilia; he has a collection of 15,000+ posters, booklets and photo sets.

Updated 25 Mar, 2015 01:39pm

Rediscovering Karachi's crumbling heritage with an Iranian wayfarer

Taking a tourist from Tehran, we visited the landmarks of Karachi only to find a disastrous discovery in the end.

Updated 10 Apr, 2015 11:41am

Unravelling Russia: Exploring Novgorod and Suzdal

It was Velikiy Novgorod and Suzdal, two sleepy towns of historic importance which made the trip to Russia memorable.

Updated 10 Apr, 2015 11:33am

A visual delight – Maryam Zamani and Wazir Khan Mosques

Lahore still retains its touristic look;the juxtaposition of Mughal and British heritage with a verdant landscape.

Updated 13 May, 2015 10:23pm