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LAHORE: Lahore’s Disneyland-like theme park will be constructed on the Lahore-Islamabad M-2 Motorway near Kala Shah Kaku, The Express Tribune learnt on Tuesday.
Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) Director General Shakeel Ahmad confirmed that after surveying different sites, the Chinese company, Golden Bean, has decided to build the country’s first Disneyland-style theme park on the M-2 Motorway.
“It is a huge project and will take around two years to complete,” he added.
Lahore Division Commissioner Abdullah Khan Sumbal said that the Punjab government is playing the role of a facilitator in the project.
The Chinese company has committed to invest Rs32 billion in the project. “Golden Bean will work on construction, procurement of land and execution of the project,” Sumbal said.
The commissioner added that the provincial government has guaranteed uninterrupted electricity supply through special feeders for the project. “The government would also build an approach road for the proposed amusement park,” he added.
Further, Sumbal said the proposed theme park would also have a five-star hotel, water aquarium, business and shopping centers, state-of-the-art rides and a breathtaking rollercoaster.
An official in the commissioner’s office disclosed that the Punjab government showed three sites to Chinese investors in the province, including Raiwind Road and Kala Shah Kaku, for the theme park. However, Chinese investors preferred Kala Shah Kaku site as it is located on the M-2 Motorway near densely populated districts of Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sialkot and adjoining areas.
The proposed theme park will be built over an area of 320 to 350 acre and will have direct access from the M-2 Motorway.
Lahore theme Park to consume 2MW on average
Khalid Hasnain
LAHORE: The divisional administration says the operation of the Rs32 billion Theme Park/Disneyland will consume approximately 2MW electricity on an average and the Punjab government will be responsible for supplying it through the Lahore Electric Supply Company that will install a special feeder.
“Besides various recreational facilities such as a state-of-the-art water aquarium, roller coasters, the park will also have a five-star hotel, business centres and banks. For this, 2MW electricity has been assessed initially to be consumed. And the government will ensure the uninterrupted supply to the park,” Commissioner Abdullah Sumbal said in a statement on Tuesday.
Later, talking to Dawn, the commissioner said though the Parks and Horticulture Authority was working on a proposal regarding the total supply of electricity in coordination with Lesco, the final figure was yet to be revealed. However, according to initial assessment the park’s operation would require at least 2MW electricity.
He said the recent international investment and business conference in Lahore bore fruit, as a Chinese firm (Golden Bean Group) expressed its interest in developing and operating a theme park exclusively on its own.
Lesco will install special feeder
The company’s senior officials visited various sites in and outside the metropolis and finally selected a piece of land measuring 320 to 350 acres situated at a spot between Lahore and Sheikhupura.
“The entire money to be incurred on the purchase of land, development and operation of the theme park will be arranged by the company, as the Punjab government will not spend even a single penny. The government will just facilitate the group in accomplishing the project,” he added.
Mr Sumbal said the decision regarding selection of site for the theme park on Lahore-Sheikhupura Road was taken by the company keeping in view the importance of the location.
“Since it is the first-ever project in Pakistan, the firm believes that the site it selected would attract a number of motorists from motorway and GT Road, residents from Shahdra, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Nankana and Faisalabad and tourists and business community travelling by air from various parts of the country to Lahore, Sialkot and Faisalabad airports.
“The people from Islamabad too can visit the park. And the River Ravi is also situated near the proposed site,” he said.
The commissioner said the company was well-experienced in developing and operating such parks in China and other countries.
The Lahore divisional and district administrations, PHA and the company representatives were busy these days on the issue of identifying and purchasing land. The cost of the project might increase by Rs2 billion in view of purchase of such a huge chunk of land, he said.
Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2015
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