Touring Pakistan: Karachi: Recreational Clubs in Karachi

Category: Lifestyle
Written by: Amend Foster (on July 10, 2008 - 08:37 PM)

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Karachi has a number of recreational and social clubs. Some have a rich architectural and cultural history going back to the days of the Raj; others have made a mark on the social scene since Independence. The facilities are available to members only, although temporary membership to out-of-town visitors is available in most cases. Some of the clubs are affiliated with other clubs in Pakistan or another country.

In this section we will take you on a tour of some of the most exclusive clubs in the city (the clubs are listed in alphabetical order).

Arabian Sea Country Club, Karachi Steel Mill, Bin Qasim, (tel. 0201-750-401; fax 0201-750-404);

Boat Club, Boat Club Road, off Moulvi Tamizuddin Khan Road (Queen's Road), (tel. 561-0450,561-1900);

Defence Authority (D.A.) Club, Central Avenue, Defence II, (tel. 580-3073 to 76,588-8330,588-6415,588-4236);

D.A. Creek Club, Khayaban-e-Zulfiqar, Defence VIII, (tel. 584-1901 to 04);

D.A. Golf Club, Khayaban-e-Zulfiqar, Defence VIII, (tel. 0303-729-5150,0320-432-2520);

D.A. Marina Club, Khayaban-e-Zulfiqar, Defence VIII, (tel. 584-1891);

D.A. Sunset Club, Khayaban-e-Jami, opposite Gizri Thana, Defence IV, (tel. 588-8304); Karachi Club, Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed Road (Kutchery Road), (tel. 568-9571 to 72);

Karachi Golf Club, P.N.S. Karsaz, Shara-e-Faisal, (tel. 457-1335, 566-34330; fax 485-3431);

Karachi Gymkhana, Club Road, (tel. 568-9173 to 74,568-9186 to 87);

Muslim Gymkhana, Aiwan-e-Sadr Road (Havelock Road), (tel. 568-3221);

Sind Club, Abdullah Haroon Road (Victoria Road), (tel. 566-1445 to 48, 566-1430);

Yacht Club, I.I. Chundrigar Road (McLeod Road), (tel. 241-2127).

Boat Club

Boat Club Road, Off Moulvi Tamizuddin Khan Road (Queen's Road), (tel. 561-0450, 561-1900; fax 561-0542).

Boat Club is one of those clubs which have been a part of the city's landscape since the days of the British rule, at a time when its doors were closed to natives seeking membership. The Club, which is situated on reclaimed land from the marshes near the China Creek, is a listed building, part of it modeled after English Tudor mansions.

The Club began as a modest outlet to provide water-lovers a serene and beautiful setting in which to practice rowing. In the absence of a swimming pool, the members could swim in the creek water which was free of the intoxicants commonly seen today. The view from the Boat Club is exhilarating, and was even more rewarding when there was a profusion of mangroves beyond the creek.

Over the last century the Boat Club has gradually expanded its premises although it still remains largely a rowing club and owns at a nominal fee. Boat Club has always been famous for the cuisine it offers, particularly its excellent sea food, supplies for which are purchased daily. The membership strength of the club is limited and as is the case with many other clubs, only member's children are being entertained for membership of the club.

This Club is different from other clubs in that it does not offer any of the conventional entertainment found in other exclusive clubs in Karachi. There are plans however, for a new wing to provide various facilitates such as library, reading room, banquet hall and indoor games. Current membership fee is Rs. 300,000.

D.A. (Defence Authority) Club. Central Avenue, Defence II, (tel. 580-3073 to 76, 588-8330, 588-6415, 588-4236; fax 580-3072).

Popularly known as the DA Club, it has expanded its building and services over the past couple of years to offer snooker, billiard, three dining halls, a bar, a lobby, a TV lounge, a formal lounge, bakery, an electronics workshop, a party lawn, a movie and a weekly tambola night in addition to the existing facilities for swimming, gym, squash and tennis. As in some other clubs there is a dress code. Be prepared to be sent home to change into something more formal, if the Club authorities do not approve of your choice of footwear for example.

The current membership fee is Rs. 400,000. Temporary membership for foreigners available.

D.A. (Defence Authority) Creek Club

Khayaban-e-Zulfiqar, Defence VIII, (tel. 584-1901 to 04; fax 584-0381).

The Club has a spectacular view of a calm blue lagoon. It is an active club providing facilities for outdoor sports, health club, indoor games and a host of social activities. It is a family club which endeavors to arrange programs suitable for each age group, from activities for housewives consisting of Cookery and Beauty Lessons, to Fun-games for children, from Annual Tambola to Kite Flying, Fashion Shows, Exhibitions and Music Recitals for the family. Sports facilities include 6 Tennis Courts, 9 Squash Courts, Swimming Pools for men, women and children. Jogging Track and Skating Rink, separate Gymnasiums for men and women. Health Club consisting of Sauna, Jacuzzi, Steam Bath and Automatic Massage, as well as Aerobics and Yoga.

The extensive grounds of the club provide ample space for relaxing in the cool prevailing breeze of the ocean. Dining facilities are provided in the Dining Hall serving buffet, a la carte and brunch, as well as four cafeterias catering to sports outlets and Barbecue Hut in the lawns providing barbecue dishes. Two banquet halls are available for formal functions.

For those residing in Defence Housing Authority, the current membership fee is Rs. 600,000 plus Rs. 200,000 refundable security deposit; there is an extra charge of Rs. 200,000 for those residing outside Defence area.

D.A. (Defence Authority) Marina Club

Khayaban-e-Zulfiqar, Defence VIII, (tel. 584-1891; fax 584-2258).

This is the only club in Pakistan that offers a range of water sports. Marina Club was established in 1991 to provide facilities to boat owners as well as giving them easy access to repairing, maintenance, repainting, and refuelling of boats (ithas its own workshops). The Club is a meeting ground for like-minded water sports enthusiasts and their families. Among the facilities available are courses that teach navigation, handling of power boats, safety at sea classes, diving, fishing, and other related topics. The club provides coaches for the training of club members and their children in water sports. In addition members are able to rent amongst other things, international boats, canoes, powerboats, sailing dinghies for children, gigs, and water scooters.

Unlike some other clubs, Marina Club has no catering service and only refreshments are available. For the entertainment of its members the Club organizes other activities as well. Some functions are also open to the general public.

So, how does one go about becoming a member? Well, for a beginning, being a boat-owner or co-owner helps. Either that, or you'll have to convince the authorities that you are planning to invest in one within the next six months. The Club offers part-time membership to students and young executives at a subsidised rate. This allows them to become members of the Rowing and Sailing Club which is a subsidiary of the schools such as the Defence School and Centre of Advanced Studies. In a reciprocal gesture, the students of these institutions can avail some of Marina Club facilities at a nominal rate. Admission fee for membership is Rs 100,000. Temporary membership is not available.

D.A. (Defence Authority) Sunset Club

Off Sunset Boulevard, Khayaban-e-Jami, opposite Gizri Thana, Defence IV, (tel. 588-8304; fax 589-3810).

The Club has been established with a view to providing sports facilities to the ever-growing population of the Defence Housing Authority area. It is equipped with indoor badminton and squash courts, tennis courts, table tennis tables and a snooker table. There are separate swimming pools and health gymnasiums for men and women. An 800 meters jogging track is a popular area where the health conscious are able to walk and jog at their convenience. The Club also has a children's park.

Dining facilities include a VIP Dining Hall for adults (children over twelve years are allowed); Jasmine, an informal barbecue restaurant offering meals and snacks for members and their children. Entertainment includes movie shows per week and a musical evening every month. The Club offers facilities for wedding receptions.

Membership of the Club is available to both civilians and Defence officers. All those belonging to 'a good family' are eligible after an interview with the Club Committee. The admission fee for civilians is Rs. 180,000, plus Rs. 20,000 security.

The Club is in the process of being affiliated with the Services Club Peshawar and Quetta, Lahore Gymkhana, Hyderabad Gymkhana, and Islamabad Club.

Karachi Club

Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed Road (Kutchery Road), (tel. 568-9571 to 72; fax 568-7937).

At the time of Independence in 1947, Karachi Club was the only principal club managed by natives, and had the honor of hosting a banquet for Pakistan's first Governor General, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, on the evening of 14th August, 1947.

At the time British clubs were exclusively for Europeans and natives were allowed entry only in special cases. Karachi Club was accordingly built by a group of Muslims, Hindus and Parsis for the use of native residents. Unfortunately, the club records prior to 1948 are no longer available, making it difficult to piece together its history.

Facilities include a swimming pool, gymnasiums, squash courts, sauna bath, snack bar, and a fruit juice parlor. The Club also has an annexes near Boat Club where delectable snacks can be enjoyed along with the prevailing sea breeze. If there is one activity which has put Karachi Club on the map, it is snooker. The Club has organized a number of national and international tournaments and one of its members, Mohammad Yousuf, was the World Snooker Champion of 1994.

Current membership fee is Rs. 400,000. Temporary membership for visitors available.

Karachi Gymkhana

Club Road, (tel. 568-9173 to 74,568-9186 to 87; fax 511-002).

The mention of Karachi Gymkhana conjures up images of water aerobics for women, an Abida Parveen concert, Haiko (Japanese poetry) Mush'aira (poetry recital), Tanz-o-Mazah (literary) sitting at the library. Swimming Gala, Tae Kwon Do, Yoga, fashion shows, weekly Tambola which is called the Quizrama, and May Queen Balls. Young boys and girls eyeing each other, bored women holding bridge parties and catching up on the latest gossip, retired men sitting and criticizing the system, and people working out in the cricket ground to shed their weight. These are the people who make up the Karachi Gymkhana crowd.

A hundred years ago, however, the scene was entirely different. You would see men, after a 'hard day's work', downing their drinks, and women in floral sun-dresses, protected from the glare by large colorful umbrellas, fanning themselves and sipping cool lemonade, while their children freely roamed the green manicured lawns. At night the same crowd sans children could be seen in more formal outfits dancing the night away. Karachi Gymkhana remained an exclusively European club until after the Second World War.

Founded in 1886, the Karachi Gymkhana was built on the style of English Tudor mansions, a style which would seem singularly inappropriate for the hot humid climate of Karachi. However, over a period of time, this quaint building had become an attractive and integral part of Karachi. Unfortunately, when restoration work was carried out on the Gymkhana, the original character of the building was lost. Karachi Gymkhana building you see today has little identification with the original structure.

Sports has been the forte of the Club since its inception, its cricket grounds hosting many cricket matches. Tennis, indoor Badminton and Swimming facilities are available to the members here. Billiards and Bridge are particularly popular pastimes. A well stocked library is widely used by children and adults alike.

Karachi Gymkhana is affiliated with Lahore Gymkhana, Hyderabad Gymkhana, Islamabad Club, Bombay Gymkhana, Pune Race Course Club, Wellington Sports Club, Bombay, and also clubs in Hong Kong, Dubai and London.

Muslim Gymkhana

Aiwan-e-Sadr Road (Havelock Road), (tel. 568-3221).

This Gymkhana was established in 1927 under the patronage of Haji Abdullah Haroon, one of the prominent figures of Pakistan Movement, its foundation stone having been laid by W.F. Hudson, Commissioner-in-Sind at the time.

Addition of new buildings in 1993 has provided several new facilities: Swimming Pool, said to be the biggest of all clubs in the country. Tennis Courts of international standard, a Jacuzzi and Sauna, Billiards tables. Library, Dining Hall, TV rooms. Health Club, and an exclusive roof garden for ladies. However, if the original historic structure had been integrated with the new facilities, it would have ensured a more culturally enriching experience for its members.

The Gymkhana is located opposite Bagh-e-Quaid-e-Azam (Polo Ground), across Aiwan-e-Sadr Road (Havelock Road). Current membership fee is Rs. 300,000.

Sind Club. Abdullah Haroon Road (Victoria Road), (tel. 566-1445 to 48, 566-1430; fax 566-1287).

In 1871, a few Englishmen met at the Frere Hall and passed a resolution that a Club be established for the whole of 'Scinde' with at least sixty subscribers. Within a short time subscription fees were collected, and Sind Club, destined to become the most prestigious club of Karachi, was established. Within the next two months, rules were drawn up and passed, a bungalow rented, staff engaged and supplies comprising various kinds of drinks, cheroots and a billiard table, were ordered from England.

As the membership rose steadily, a more permanent accommodation was sought by the Committee; a parcel of land, lying between Frere Hall and the original Masonic Lodge (the site of the present 'Millionaire's Row' in Sind Club

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