5
city's phenomenal growth, much in excess of any other city in the province,
is due to its activity as the outlet for the Punjab and Sind harvests, and the
growth of its ocean-borne trade. (Tables IV and V.)
Section 4.
1. The Maritime Trade of the Province of Sind.—The trade dealt with in
the attached figures- is the sea-borne trade of the
Chief Port of Karachi with the foreign countries.
The total value of imports for the year ending 31st March 1912 rose to
1,671 lakhs, an increase of more than 18 per cent. on the year immediately
preceding. Molasses, metals, kerosine oil, yams and piece-goods account for
the principal increases. The total imports in the articles of food and drink
amounted to 317 lakhs, out of which sugar alone account for 256 lakhs, the
following being the countries from whence it was imported :—Java, Mauritius,
Austria, United Kingdom, Persia, Germany, Egypt and Hongkong.
The foreign export rose at the same time to 2,495 lakhs, showing an increase
of over 9 per cent. on the preceding year. The principal increases occur
under grain, cotton and hides. The total exports in articles of food and drink
amounted to 1,520 lakhs.
Statement showing in tabular form the sea-borne foreign trade of Sind
for the five years 1907-08 to 1911-12 :—
Total imports in lakhs
...
Total exports in lakhs
...
1907-08.
Rs.
1,290
1,825
1908-09.
Rs.
1,594
869
1909-10.
Rs.
1,341
2,241
1910-11.
Rs.
1,419
2,251
1911-12.
Rs.
1,671
2,495
2. The amount of foreign shipping entering this port during 1911-12
was 960,000 tons representing 567 vessels and that clearing was 1,100,000
tons representing 607 vessels. Among the steamers which entered this port
were in addition to the large number of British ones—German, Austrian,
Norwegian, Greek, Swedish, etc.
3. The total trade with the East amounts to 223 lakhs, Java leading an
easy first. The following countries also contribute:—The Malay Straits,
Australia, Hongkong and China, Japan, Borneo, Phillipines, Pacific Coast of
the United States of America and Mexico.
The coasting trade carried on by native sailing crafts is not negligible and
includes most of the ports on the west coast of India.
Section 5.
1. Municipal Administration,—The Municipality is constituted under the
Bombay Act of 1901. At the head of the Municipal
Administration of the city is the Municipal Corpora-
tion and its managing committee. The Corporation is composed of 36, made
up of 24 elected and 12 nominated Councillors. During the year 4 were officials
and 32 non-officials or 11 Europeans and 25 Indians.
With the Corporation lies the power of the purse, and under the Act it is
incumbent upon it to provide for the execution and maintenance of drainage,
water-works, conservancy, reclamation of unhealthy localities, birth and death
registration, measures for checking and preventing the spread of disease,
maintenance and regulation of markets and slaughter-houses, and has powers
to control public streets, primary schools, vaccination, public hospitals and
dispensaries.
The entire executive is vested in the Chief Officer, who is also the Chief
Engineer, and under him are the Engineer and the Health Officer. The revenue
of the Corporation is obtained from a tax on houses, lands, town duties and
octroi dues, wheel-tax, conservancy and water-rates vaccination fees.
H 305—2