The Pakistani government has revealed an ambitious plan to develop Ziarat Hasan Shah Island near Karachi into a premier eco-tourism destination, a venture estimated to cost up to 1.5 billion rupees ($5.3 million) and projected to create several thousand new jobs.
According to official information today, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, announced that the initiative has been designated an investment priority. He stated that the island project is expected to generate between 1,000 and 1,500 direct and indirect employment opportunities during its construction phase.
‘It is projected to create… 1,200 to 1,800 sustainable jobs once operations begin,’ the minister said while chairing a meeting on the development. He added the scheme would provide a ‘substantial boost to local livelihoods’ and foster long-term coastal economic growth.
Ziarat Hasan Shah Island, located near Karachi’s Eastern Zone, is approximately four kilometres long with a varying width of 100 to 500 metres. According to the minister, its southeastern sandy beach holds significant potential for hospitality, recreational, and leisure activities.
‘The natural beauty and coastal environment of Ziarat Hasan Shah Island present a unique opportunity to create a high-value recreational hub that aligns with Pakistan’s growing coastal tourism demand,’ Minister Chaudhry remarked.
A key advantage of the location is its land accessibility, which allows for a direct road connection to Karachi’s existing infrastructure. This feature is expected to lower development costs, accelerate the project timeline, and encourage local employment.
The development will be executed through a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) or Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The government is actively seeking private sector investors with proven experience in hospitality, tourism, and leisure development to collaborate on the venture.
‘Our aim is to attract credible partners while ensuring public interests are protected and returns remain sustainable,’ Junaid Anwar Chaudhry stated.
Acknowledging the sensitivity of coastal ecosystems, the minister emphasised that environmental safeguards would be a central component of the island”s transformation. ‘Tourism must go hand in hand with responsibility,’ he said, underscoring a commitment to climate-conscious and standards-compliant development.
This initiative is part of a broader government strategy focusing on port-led and coastal projects to expand trade and investment, aiming to strengthen Pakistan”s blue economy along its more than 1,000-kilometre, largely underutilised, coastline.