Local Transport, Karachi

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During our stay in Karachi we had the luxury of a private driver, so we never took a ride on these symbols of the city: Karachi's public transport buses are easily recognizable with their reflective tape, colourful paint decorations of birds and flowers, flashing lights, different loud melodious horns and loud music - it's a celebration on wheels!

There is a whole series of family businesses solely devoted to bus decoration and to "out-do" the other families, and each style is unique; no two buses ever look the same.

For tourists, this is an experience which I regret missing; one of those rides you'll never forget. Passengers have to actually JUMP onto or off the bus while the driver will only slow down to about 10-15 km/h... in this hectic city, time can't be lost!

But also considering that riding a crammed, smelly & hot bus probably isn't pleasant for those daily commuters that have no other choice, it seems the drivers are at least trying to brighten-up their passengers' days nonetheless.
(Check-out the below website for the city's bus routes & "attempted schedules".)

When arriving at the airport at karachi - coming out of the terminal -
opt for a metered taxi.

Once you are out of the terminal , after collecting your luggage
you can find various booths offering taxi service.

The taxis are new and airconditioned -
and having a rate of Rs. 15 / km

Just book a taxi from the airport to go any where in karachi -

There are many taxi services at the airport now -
but the oldest one is METRO RADIO CAB

Their porter will take your luggage to the taxi , so you dont have to carry it long -

Do not go for the regular YELLOW taxis as they would ask for a higher fare and yellow taxis are unmetered.

Karachi has 3 types of taxis.

Yellow Taxi / yellow Cab
Black Cab
and
recently introduced new cab companies.

Yellow and black cabs are old taxis - without ac , un metered -
They will take a long interview about where you want to go - which street, which building and either they will agree and they will not agree. If they agreem then they will tell you the fare-

If you are tourist they are likely to agree and will ask for extra / huge fare -

The condition of the taxi is very much bad.

Its better to take the new metered taxis.
RED TOP cab is the new addition , the cabs are new suzki liana , air condition and metered-

There are a few cab companies in karachi - whose fare is some what Rs. 15/ km
Rs. 50 / per first 3 km and then Rs. 15 / km there after.

RED TOP CAB
STAR CAB
METRO CAB
WHITE CAB
SANA CAB

all these cabs are new air conditioned cars , metered taxis.
But mind you, drivers might drive rough at times -

Also, you can hire these cabs for the whole day for around Rs. 1500 / for 7 hours or 100 kms.
better way to more around the city.

If you are thinking to take a bus when in Karachi, dont even dream of taking it.

Buses here dont have any fixed bus stops -
people tend to get on and off the running bus - when it starts to slow down ,

Very difficult for a newbie to get on and off the buss -
Also, the buses are over loaded and crowded - at rush hours, people tend to travel on top of the roof of the bus.

Pick pockets are common in the buses -

Though travelling by bus is very cheap but not suggested to tourists -

Thought you will like the way buses and trucks are painted -
this might be the only good thing about the karachi buses :)

In the interior villages and towns of Sindh, motorcycle-rickshaw is a popular mode of transport. The frame of a rickshaw is built over the rear side of a motorcycle. This mode is good for a couple of passengers. It is also economical for villagers.

Men in the group took turns with children to let them enjoy a thrilling ride on mud tracks of plowed fields. There was no need for Disney rides for the kids here.

The best to travel in Karachi is taking a taxi. It’s not very expensive and rather safe. The taxi cost around 10 -15 pence a mile. Other mean of transports are, buses and rickshaws but don’t you even think of taking any of them, unless you like big challenges.
Most of the public transport is in very dreadful condition.

Man, Clifton Beach had apparently just suffered from an offshore oil spill. It was still, however, possible to ride a camel at least near the beach. I wouldn't recommend this particular activity at Clifton, or even visiting Clifton Beach.

ALTHOUGH MY HUSBAND HAS HIS OWN CAR THERE ARE MANY OTHER FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION AROUND KARACHI.....MY FAVORITE WAS THE RICKSHAW....ALTHOUGH THE EXHAUST FROM THEM WILL KILL YOU ...LOL THEY LOOKED REALLY FUN TO RIDE IN AND I THINK THEY ARE PRETTY CHEAP TOO...YOU CAN ALSO RIDE IN BUSSES AND IN CABS.....OR YOU CAN EVEN FIT 4 PEOPLE ON A SMALL MOTORCYCLE.....OMG...WHEN I SEEN THAT I ABOUT DIED....LOL AND IF YOU ARE TRAVELING WITH A SMALL CHILD..BRING A CAR SEAT CUZ YOU WONT FIND ANY THERE....KIDS JUMP AROUND IN THE CARS AND EVEN WOMEN HOLD SMALL BABIES WHILE RIDING ON THE BACK OF A MOTORCYCLE WITH THE DRIVER DRIVING LIKE HE IS IN A RACE AND WEAVING IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC....UUFFFFF AND IF YOU WALK AROUND....WATCH OUT FOR CARS AND EVERYTHING ELSE....CUZ YOU DONT HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY AND OF YOU ARE IN THEIR WAY THEY WILL RUN OVER YOU!!!!!