What is "lyari"

Lyari ( Urdu: ) is one of the neighbourhoods of Lyari Town in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. It is the oldest human settlement of Karachi city. The first inhabitants of Lyari were Sindhi fishermen and Baloch nomads. Lyari is Karachi's densest neighborhood where poverty, criminality, violence and despair prevails.

Lyari was ignored for infrastructure development during British colonial period and that policy continued post-colonial when more resources were diverted towards resettlement of Urdu-speaking Muhajirs migrating from India. Successive provincial governments continued with this policy even after meeting the needs of migrants.

There are several ethnic groups in Lyari including Muhajirs, Sindhis, Kashmiris, Seraikis, Pakhtuns, Balochis, Memons, Punjabies, Christians and Ismailis. The population of Lyari Town is estimated to be nearly one million.

Lyari serves as the base of the Peoples' Aman Committee.