CBC History

History of Clifton Cantonment

  Clifton cantonment does not share the traditional history of cantonments in the sub-continent as it is a post independence development which goes with the history of  establishment of Pakistan Defence Officers Housing Authority (PDOHA) Karachi. PDOHAcame into being through a presidential ordinance No. 7 of 1980. Cantonment Board Clifton also emerged concurrently through a Notification SRO No. 207(1) (83) dated 27-02-1983 as a sequel to this in order to provide municipal cover to the DHA by bifurcating Karachi Cantt and amalgamation 13 Katchi Abadies located in the periphery, Block-8&9 of old KDA Scheme-5.

It has an area of 51.327 sq.km with a population of 0.25 million persons. The area includes 8 DHA phases, 13 Katchi Abadis prominent being Punjab colony, Dehli Colony, Hazara colony, Pak Juamhuria Colony, Bakhshan Villge, Chandio village Lower Gizri etc and Block-8&9 of old KDA Scheme-V. The Cantonment has in total 63 Nos of boundary pillars.

On the North and West side of Clifton Cantt Board exist the area of Karachi Cantt. Towards East lies CDGK jurisdiction and Arabian Sea on compasses the entire Southern part of the Cantonment. It is predominantly inhabited by civilian populace and only a linear portion towards the North has certain pockets of military establishment. Prominent amongst the military installations are Transit Cam PNS Shifa, College of  Physicians & Surgeons Pakistan, Race Course Ground and certain units of signals etc. There also exists few residential houses of defence personals of HQ 5 Corps.

  Clifton Cantonment is one of the posh localities of Karachi with huge ingrastructure, sprawling shopping centers and decent re-creational areas, neat and clean environment and 3 and 1/2  km long beach toward Southern proximity where the Karachities throng every evening in large number for entertainment. Cantonment Board Clifton and DHA developed numerous facilities for the residents and general public for  their smooth and orderly flow in to its jurisdiction.

Clifton Cantonment is a role model for other civic bodies to emulated. It is self contained civic body which does not fall back for financial assistance either upon Federal Govt. or Provincial Govt. The Board is being managed by senior and seasoned bureaucrats headed by Station Commander Karachi as the President of the Board. This arrangement has been made to facilitate the DHA residents as both institutions are complimentary to each other. The arrangement has proved successful and the residents are fully satisfied with the set-up.

Clifton is a class-I Cantonment where the Board regularly holds its monthly meetings. There are number of residents Committees like DRS, ADR, Work Committee, Evaluation Committee, Assessment Committee etc working hand in hand with the authorities of the Board. Monthly meetings of the residents are being held in the Board office regularly in order to redress the problems of the residents. The Board has its office in Phase-VI of DHA  in purpose built building for accommodating the staff of the Board for the redressal of residents complaints & problems.