‘Unavoidable circumstances’: Dolphin shows put off by a month

Delays in construction of pool at the Pakistan Maritime Museum has forced the organisers to postpone the show.

KARACHI: The country’s first-ever marine mammal show has been moved forward by at least a month. The 45-day show was slated for the first week of October but delays in the construction of the 80-feet-long pool at the Pakistan Maritime Museum has forced the organisers to postpone the show till November. “Monsoon rains and then the [protest] strikes affected the work,” said Mustafa Kamal, the CEO of Talent Broker International, which is spearheading the project. “These are unavoidable circumstances but we are on track and the show will take place.” A Moscow-based international company - Utrish Dolphinarium Ltd - would bring in four dolphins and two sea lions along with their trainers and veterinarians for the shows that are scheduled to move to Lahore from Karachi. “Let me assure you that the Russians are very comfortable working here,” said Kamal assuring that the shows will go on. The tickets will be priced at Rs450 for adults and Rs250 for children and the organisers expect a rush of people once the shows get going.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 30^th, 2012.