Key Points
- Government plans an eco-tourism and lifestyle project on Ziarat Hasan Shah Island near Karachi.
- Investment size estimated at Rs 1–1.5 billion under Public Private Partnership or Build Own and Transfer model.
- Project expected to create up to 1,800 long-term jobs after completion
- Initiative fits into Pakistan’s wider push to unlock its underused coastline
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s federal government plans to develop Ziarat Hasan Shah Island near Karachi into a modern eco-tourism, sports tourism and lifestyle destination, as Pakistan steps up efforts to tap its long-neglected coastline as a source of sustainable growth and private investment.
The government has marked the project an investment priority, according to Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar. The government expects the project to ensure environmental protection with long-term economic returns.
The proposed development, with an estimated cost of Rs 1 billion to Rs 1.5 billion, would position the island as a high-value recreational hub close to the country’s largest city.
According to the minister, the project envisions 1,000 initial jobs in addition to 1,500 direct and indirect jobs during the construction phase, followed by 1,200 to 1,800 permanent jobs once operations begin. Officials see employment generation as a key justification for fast-tracking the scheme, particularly for coastal communities that remain economically marginalised despite Karachi’s proximity.
Ziarat Hasan Shah Island is located near Karachi’s Eastern Zone and stretches approximately four kilometres in length, with a width ranging from about 100 to 500 metres.
Its southeastern sandy shoreline is considered suitable for hospitality, leisure and water-based recreation, officials said, adding that the island’s natural landscape offers a rare opportunity for low-density, experience-driven tourism development.
Unlike many offshore projects that require a heavy marine infrastructure, the island is accessible by landroute to Karachi’s existing road network.
This feature is expected to lower upfront costs, shorten development timelines and encourage the participation of local businesses and labour, according to officials involved in planning discussions.
The government plans to implement the project through a Build-Operate-Transfer or Public-Private Partnership structure, seeking private investors with experience in tourism, hospitality and leisure facilities.
Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said the aim was to attract credible partners without compromising public interests or environmental standards.
Pakistan’s coastline stretches over 1,000 kilometres along the Arabian Sea, yet large parts of it remain commercially underdeveloped. Policymakers increasingly view coastal tourism as a potential growth area that can complement ports, fisheries and logistics within the broader blue economy framework.
Environmental safeguards are expected to play a central role in the Ziarat Hasan Shah Island project, given the sensitivity of coastal and marine ecosystems.
The minister stated that the climate-conscious planning and compliance with environmental standards would be built into the design and approval process, reflecting growing pressure on governments to align tourism expansion with sustainability goals.
The island initiative forms part of wider port-led and coastal development plans designed to attract investment, boost tourism and diversify economic activity linked to the maritime sector, officials said.
