KARACHI, June 21: The city government and a private company, operating chair-lifts in Murree, have signed an agreement for installing and operating such lifts in the Safari Park. According to a city government statement issued on Tuesday, the City Nazim, Niamatullah Khan, and the company’s chief executive, Malik Khalid, signed the agreement. DCO Karachi Fazalur Rehman and EDO Investment Promotion Raees Paracha were also present.

Under the agreement, the company would have the right to install and operate the chair-lifts in Safari Park for 10 years, against paying an annual sum of Rs5 million to the city government for the first five years and Rs7.5 million for the remaining five.

The period of agreement can be renewed with mutual understanding after that period.

Mr Niamat said the people of Karachi would be able to enjoy the facility of chair-lifts within the next few months. This would also further increase the number of visitors to the Safari Park.

He lauded the efforts of district officers Dr Fayyaz Alam and Mansoor Alam and Deputy DO Safari Park Dr Farid Quadri. He also thanked Malik Khalid, of the private company for investing in Karachi.

Mr Khalid, on the occasion, said the starting of the chair-lifts would be from the park’s front part and they would stop at the highest place. Their duration would be from 12 to 15 minutes, he said.

The chair-lifts would be imported from Italy and their installation would be started soon, he added.

He informed that there were four chair-lift projects working in the country; Murree, Ayubia, Patriata and Maalam Jabba.

—PPI