Pir Ilahi Buksh Colony
Pir Ilahi Buksh Colony or Pir Elahi Bux Colony or PIB Colony (Urdu: پیر الہی بخش کالونی ) is one of the neighbourhoods of Gulshan Town in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.[1]
Pir Ilahi Buksh Colony was named after Pir Ilahi Bux a prominent member of Pakistan Movement and Chief Minister of Sindh.
There are several ethnic groups in Pir Ilahi Buksh Colony including Muhajirs, Gujratis, Hyderabadis, Sindhis, Kashmiris, Seraikis, Pakhtuns, Balochis, Memons, Bohras, Ismailis, Khatris, Chhipas, etc. The population of Gulshan Town is estimated to be nearly one million.
After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the Muslim refugees migrated to Karachi, then the capital of Pakistan. Pir Elahi Bux Colony was built when land for the colony was donated to Muhajirs by a major agriculturist. A private contractor, Mr Hasan, was then awarded the task to make houses. Hasan made 150-square-yard houses at a cost of Rs1800. These houses had bedroom and wash rooms, but no roof.[2]
Majority of the houses in PIB colony are of 195 sq. yards, some of them are 150 sq. yards. The houses so built, had roofs too. These houses indeed had three level roofs and in the back open verandah. Two major bedrooms in center and two smaller rooms on the front. The extension of the houses when finished with 195 sq yards. cost over Rs.4000.
Many famous individuals from migrant community lived in this colony who later moved to other areas. A Pakistan TV drama by Anwar Maqsood was also was based on this colony.
This colony was next to the Central Prison. The central bus station of route 8A to 8D taking passengers to various other parts of the city.
Pir Ilahi Bux's family lived in a compound next to a school named PIB school and a school named as Meridien school, both of them were high quality primary level schools. Students of these schools are scattered all over the world. Most famous mosques in the area include Hashmi Masjid ,Jamia Masjid, Faizan-e-Attar, Ahmed Raza, Khatri Masjid, Makrani and Madani Mosques.