KARACHI: Waterfront project to create many jobs: DHA
KARACHI, Oct 3: The DHA Waterfront Development project will be completed in seven phases at a cost of Rs260 billion, while the development work has already started at various zones.
This was told by the Defence Housing Authority officials in a briefing to leading businessmen of the country at DHA head office here on Monday.
The briefing was organized by the 21st Century Business and Economics Club to keep them abreast of the development activities by the DHA including the mega waterfront project.
Brig Bahram of the DHA told that the waterfront development project was divided into seven zones from A to G, stretching on 14km of the beach from Clifton to the Gizri Creek, which would be developed into a modern residential, commercial and recreational estate.
This project would provide 78,000 direct employment opportunities besides 14,000 indirect jobs, he hoped.
Giving a presentation on the project, he told Zone-A was comprised of 22 acres of land from Sindbad (old Casino) to the McDonald restaurant, out of which over 12 acres would remain vacant for parking purpose (2,000 to 3,000 vehicles at a time) and a tramway terminal.
It will house 40 to 50-storey commercial centre worth US$125 million. The zone will attract multinational companies to operate from there in a beautiful view around.
The Zone-B will be developed on a 2km area. It will have a water park with sports, rides, swimming zones and a wave island planned on 11 acres of land, which will be an attractive feature for visitors.
A 600-feet high monumental tower will be erected having a revolving restaurant and an observatory deck on the top.
The main structure will be supported by a low-rise complex having indoor games, such as ice-skating, simulators, shooting gallery, etc.
An offshore amphitheatre having a capacity to accommodate 6,000 people at a time, connected through a grand pier with the main land is also being provided in this zone. This zone will be developed at cost of US$33 million, he noted.
Zone-C will house a food court complex with a variety of restaurants offering local and continental cuisines. An exclusive amusement park on 24 acres of land will provide fun and entertainment for adults and children.
Zone-D will stretch on a 2km area, having a board walk all along the coast coupled with viewers’ deck, sitting areas, utility structures, kiosks and restaurants at various spots. This will supplement the main promenade running parallel to the board walk at a higher level, he briefed.
In Zone-E, sculpture court amphitheatre and Expo Centre complex with its multi-dimensional activities on 30-acres land will be an attraction for tourists. A high-rise residential complex will be constructed at 10-acre land at a cost of US$140 million.
A five-star hotel will also be established on 19.5 acres at a cost of US$135 million. A co-generation plant having 94mw electricity and 3MGD water plant will be installed at cost of Rs5.6 billion, Brig Bahram informed.
The 3.6km coast in Zone-F is ideal for all water sports activities such as sport fishing, snorkeling, diving, swimming, yachting, boating, jet skiing and water skiing. Stadia seating in concrete will be build to accommodate the viewers of the water sports.
An underwater world with Dolphin Park and Aquarium will be developed on over 9 acres at a cost of US$25 million.
It will also have two seafood restaurants. A Marina will be developed with jetties, which will have over 4,000 boats beside other parking decks.
In the Creek City project, a 300-bed hospital will be constructed at a cost of Rs3 billion, he maintained.
Later, talking to reporters, DHA Administrator Brig Maqsood Hussain said waterfront project was a unique project in the country, which would be completed by 2015. To queries regarding polluted sea at waterfront project, he said DHA was also making efforts to reduce pollution, as untreated sewage was continuously coming into the sea.
About environmental impacts of the project, he said the National Institute of Oceanography had already conducted a study to determine the impacts and had finally approved the project with some modifications.
Brig Maqsood Hussain said for the expansion of DHA phases, 12,000 acres of land had been acquired by the Sindh government near Super Highway.—PPI
