UK-based company, Deighton International has been awarded the contract to develop and operate Pakistan’s first theme park.
The City District Government of Karachi chose the leisure and tourism planning, development and operation specialist over other shortlisted tenders from the US and the Middle East.
Costing more than US$200m (£108m), the Karachi Beach theme park will be situated on a 100-acre beachfront site in the city’s Clifton area and target its 10 million residents as well as the large numbers of domestic tourists who head to the Arabian Sea coast at weekends and holidays.
The park will be split into seven zones all based on national and oceanic themes including a replica of Pakistan’s K2 mountain, a giant oyster shell whose pearl houses an attraction based on the country’s history, and a water ride called Monsoon.
It will also feature two hotels.
Guests will enter the park through the national flag – with the admissions building in the shape of a crescent and an illuminated fountain in the shape of a five-pointed star.
Deighton CEO, Philip D. Deighton, said: “Karachi Beach is a world-class site and we intend to deliver and world-class attraction.”
The City District of Karachi is contributing the land and services and Deighton is currently courcing investment for the $200m development costs.
Work is due to begin on site early in 2005. Details: www.deighton-international.com
