Civil Lines formed part of the "New Town" established during the colonial era, and developed shortly after the British gained control of Karachi from the Talpurs in 1839.

It was primarily residential, and was where much of the British officials and local elite resided in Karachi during the colonial era.

[1] To the north of Civil Lines was the European commercial district of Saddar, and to the south the affluent seaside municipality of Clifton.

Following independence, the residential patterns established by the British continued, with Karachi's wealthy residents establishing affluent neighbourhoods in the southern and eastern parts of the city,[3] with poorer areas in the north and west.

There are several ethnic groups including Muhajirs, Punjabis, Sindhis, Kashmiris, Seraikis, Pakhtuns, Balochis, Memons, Bohras and Ismailis.