The Best Museums in Karachi, Pakistan

The Mohatta Palace Museum was built as a palatial residence for the Hindu Marwari Shiv Rattan Mohatta in 1927. Architect Ahmed Hussein Agha, who was responsible for the grand building, was inspired by the Anglo-Mughal structures found in Pakistan and India. The structure served as an office for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and an abode for Fatima Jinnah, sister of the nation’s founder, until it was finally turned into a museum to share the cultural appreciation of Pakistan. The museum today has 44 galleries displaying artifacts from different regions and eras of the country. The palace also regularly holds art exhibitions. Many stone statues also add glory to the magnificent building.

Originally used as the Town Hall for the city of Karachi, the Frere Hall’s Gothic-Venetian Victorian-style building houses an art gallery and a museum today; it is counted as one of the most iconic structures in the country, completed in 1865. Its collection features stone busts, including one of King Edward VII, and various oil paintings. There is also a library for those who wish to delve deep into books in the beautiful structure.

If you wish to know more about the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, then visiting this museum is a must. This handsome building is perfect for this purpose because it was among one of the houses in which the founder lived. Many fascinating personal belongings of the Quaid (meaning leader in Urdu) are on display here. Additionally, the façade of the building itself, like most of the museums on this list, is beautifully made of stone carvings, pillars, circular balconies, and arched openings.

This museum is dedicated to the art, Islamic heritage and historical valuables of the country. It records and presents the cultural history of Pakistan. There is plenty to see in the 11 galleries of this site, which also includes a special Quran gallery with around 300 rare and precious copies of the holy scripture. Ancient artifacts such as treasures from the Indus Valley Civilization, Gandhara civilization sculptures, miniature paintings, and political manuscripts are also some of the attractions at this museum.

The Pakistan Air Force Museum, popularly known as its abbreviation of P.A.F Museum, is a hall and park that features all the main fighter jets and aircraft which the Pakistan Air Force has used. There are also radars and other weapons on display inside the building and outdoors. Aircraft captured from the Indian forces during the ’65 war with India and Jinnah’s Vickers VC.1 Viking are the main attractions of the establishment. Additionally, scale models of World War I and II fighter jets are also on display for the amusement of World War history enthusiasts, along with modern aircraft.

Just like the air force, Pakistan’s Naval Forces also have their own museum in the city, which sits alongside an artificial lake and a park. The Pakistan Maritime Museum, situated on 28 acres of grassy lawns, comprises six galleries and an auditorium. Through implementing interactive education, various naval relics are presented to the audiences of this museum through relief models, dioramas and sculptures, murals, taxidermy, and real ancient weapons. But possibly the most attractive displays at this museum are the Daphne Class Submarine, Breguet Atlantic aircraft, and PNS Mujahid (M164), the minesweeper.