KARACHI, April 9: Development schemes for the city's coastal areas were reviewed at a meeting chaired by City Nazim Naimatullah Khan on Thursday.

The nazim directed the officials concerned that locations be identified in coastal areas, particularly at the Hawkesbay, Paradise Point and Clifton, for building hotels, restaurants and other facilities for visitors.

He also directed that survey of the coastal areas be completed within 20 days for identification of such locations, where the said facilities could be made available. The meeting also discussed the 10-year old report of the defunct Beach Development Authority.

Mr Khan said that besides improving the transport, sewerage and water supply systems, the city government was taking keen interest in the development of coastal areas, so that the people coming for recreation could enjoy the required facilities.

Meanwhile, the city government has released Terms of Reference (ToR) to nine pre-qualified companies for development of coastal areas on built, operate and transfer (BOT) basis.

The ToR were handed over to the firms at a meeting held recently, which was attended by EDO, Enterprise and Investment Promotion (EIP), Raeesuddin Paracha, House Committee Chairman Ansar Aziz, City Nazim's Coordinator Tufail Ahmed, DO-1, E&IP, Abdul Rahim Sheikh and representatives of the pre-qualified firms.

Representatives of the firms raised different queries about the project, including its time frame and quantum of investment. Mr Paracha, responding to the queries, allayed different reservations of the firms.

It was learnt that the companies showed a keen interest in providing recreational facilities at the coastal areas of the city. According to the plan, amusement parks, swimming pools, theme parks, picnic huts, sea sports, concert stadiums, Dolphin Park, water park, children fun land and floating restaurants would also be constructed at the coastal areas under this project.

It has been estimated that a total of Rs1,000 million investment will be required for recreational facilities at coastal areas during the next two year. A total of nine companies have pre-qualified for the project including M/S KNK (Pvt) Ltd. Lahore, M/S ADOS Pakistan Ltd & Konnect Holding (Pvt) Ltd. Islamabad, M/S Grand Leisure Corporation (Pvt) Ltd. Karachi, M/S Mushtaq & Company Karachi, M/S A.A. Joyland (Pvt) Ltd. Karachi, M/S Saadullah Khan & Bros. Karachi, M/S Pakistan Kuwait Investment Co. (Pvt) Ltd. Karachi, M/S Parks Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd. Lahore and Millennium Entertainment (Pvt) Ltd Karachi. -APP/PPI