Fucking Fawara

Have you heard about Karachi's newest attraction: what is alleged to be the tallest fountain in the world?

And apparently, the biggest waste of money.

GEO News reports that "The highest Fountain Jet of the world at Oyster Rocks in Keamari ... with estimated cost of Rs225 million ... the Fountain Jet will spew water up to 500 feet height and will be the world’s highest Fountain Jet.Presently the world’s highest Fountain Jet was located in Saudi Arabia, which spew water up to 350 feet height."

225 Fucking Million Rupees. Are You Fucking Kidding Me?!!!

It apparently costs 100k rupees to just run that fountain everyday (and as it normally runs from 8-12, it costs about 25k per hour!). Add that to the cost of building it, and you have The Fucking Worst Idea Anyone Has Ever Implemented In Pakiland.

There's been talk about it being a great tourist attraction and that - coupled with Aisa's largest park apparently right next to it - it's a place where vendors are setting up shop and can hope to eran lots of money.

How? By selling 15 rupee keychain? At that rate, yeah, the common man will eventually make back the money spent by the goverment in ... say ... a CENTURY?

Come on KPfuckingT ... 225 million?!!! Come on Parvez Moneybags Musharraf. Even I can think of better ways to have spent that money ... specially at this point of time, when there are thousand who need help getting on with their lives post-earthquake.

How is a bloody 500 foot fountain going to help them?

I have my doubts about the financial viability of the project.

I can't imagine many people coming to see a 'fountain' and 'Asia's largest park' besides those already living in Pakistan. Let's face it, it's a country with almost no toursit attractions and most foreigners are wary of its (well-earned) reputation for violence and terrorism. Add to that the filth you encounter everywhere and the condition of the roads, lack of public transport etc etc. NOT your ideal tourist destination. Name one beach easily accessible from Karachi that's clean enough and safe enough to have a swim.

Fine, the Northern Areas are lovely, but WHY would a ski enthusiast who's come for a cheap ski vacation go all the way South to Karachi to see a bloody fountain?

Remember Aladin Waterpark when it was first created.? What high hopes everybody had for that. Seen it recently?

It's swarmed by lower class people who have no other means of entertainment AND who have no sense of hygeine OR respect for public property. You'd be lucky to find a surface there that's not been painted on, peed on, or paan-spitted on. And don't even THINK of going in the water. What good is this 'waterpark' today? Can't imagine suggesting any tourists go there. Kya apni naak katwani hai goron ko itni gandi jagha bhej kar?

Fact of the matter is, the jaahil qaum always tend to congregate at such venues, effectively driving any upper/upper-middle class people away: people who might spend more money and who might be more respectful of such venues.

Have you ever seen the Minar-e-Pakistan? It's our equivalent of the Statue and Liberty and do you know what it's like? It's got paan stains all over it and people have scrathed their names and left their phone numbers and ingenious marketing executives have stuck sticker adverts for everything from sex-change operations to international fax services.

THAT is Pakistani Qaum for you.

And you expect them to respect this fountain? You think it will be in ANY state to be proud of even two years from now?

I went to Mushi's PR site.

" ... the President said that new management will invest millions of dollars to improve electric supply to Karachiites" (as opposed to the BILLIONS spent on a lousy fountain?!!!)

"Appreciating the efforts of KPT Chairman Vice Admiral Ahmed Hayat, he said under his dynamic leadership KPT was undertaking development projects.He said the port fountain was one of the tallest in the world and provides scenic view to the people. It will beautify the port, he added." (what might also beautify the port Mushi, is the cleaning of the creeks and beaches and better waste management - all of which would be more sensible than a jet of water shooting 500 feet into the air for no purpose other than 'beautification).

"President Musharraf said the coastline of Pakistan has to be developed. It gives a good feeling, he noted." (Has he bothered to note that decorrupting the police force, coming up with budgets that DON'T give 80% of everything to the Army, better infrastructre, more reliable and safer public transport, improved andi ncreased educational opportunities for the poor might all give 'a good feeling' ... and shall we say more long-term then a water jet?)

"He said British firm Invest Water Treatment has built the fountain." (funnily enough, the name didn't even pop up on Google. Hello. Even I pop up on Google, so what's the deal? Is this some shitty little backstreet operation that doesn't even have an online presence, or is Mushi's PR team too lazy to bother checking if the names mentioned in a release are correct?!)

"Later President General Pervez Musharraf unveiled the plaque and pressed the button to start the fountain. This was followed by a spectacular display of fireworks which lasted for quite some time. "

And so starts the story of yet more Paksitani funds going (literelly) down the drain.

Well done Mushi. What little respect I had for you is now lost.

PS: I live in the city of 'The Biggest', 'The Tallest' etc etc. When a country with excellent public education, great infrastructre, reliable public transport and a commendable police force does it, it makes sense.