JAMSHED Quarters, Martin East, Martin West, and Jahangir Quarters are all part of Karachi’s Pakistan Quarters that were built on state land for government servants at the time of Partition. They are located on the main corridors of movement, and are easily accessible from the central business district. With the building of the Green Line BRT in the neighborhood, the value of the land on which they are built has increased substantially.

After the 1960s, the quarters were abandoned by government agencies and left to evolve incrementally on the basis of the needs of residents. The vast majority of the original allottees have passed away, but there are still a few pensioners. The quarters are now occupied by the children, grandchildren — and in some cases, the great grandchildren of the original allottees — and the houses have been subdivided and extended to accommodate the increase in population.

Many households have rented out accommodation as well. The area contains sports clubs, religious societies, community welfare organizations, schools, mosques and imambargahs, and considerable economic activity — everything that creates cohesive communities. These have developed over the last 70 years.