Built at a cost of Rs 5.5 crore, the casino's completion was delayed during the countrywide disturbances that broke out in early 1977. Spread over an area of over 5,000 sq yds, the largest and most expensive pleasure palace this side of the Suez was designed to provide restaurants, nightclubs, gambling and residential facilities. Elaborate arrangements for call girls were also made. The idea was to cater for the growing Arab clientele that is being diverted to Karachi after the fall of Beirut. The project, mooted during Bhutto's regime, was launched by a Karachi firm called El-Adil International, whose owner, the young and dapper Tufail Shaikh, was known to be a close friend of Bhutto's.
Shaikh, who also owned a hotel and penthouse night-club in Karachi, was once known as the Hugh Heffner of Pakistan. It was allegedly through Bhutto's good offices that he succeeded in procuring a loan of Rs 2 crore from a consortium of five nationalized Pakistan banks for the project. The loan was originally to be invested in a residential hotel to be built in the area. But what materialized was a pleasure dome for which special bye-laws were framed. According to the exclusive laws no government official below a certain level, such as a superintendent of police or director of excise, could enter the casino premises for any sort of check.
The defunct casino is one of the many extravagances that are dying a natural death under the martial law government. While a martial law inquiry team headed by Brigadier Qamarul Islam has recommended the government take over the casino, a spate of foreign hotel chains are sweating it out to complete their hotels under construction.
In Karachi alone, three five-star luxury hotels, the Hilton, Sheraton and a Hyatt Regency hotel, are underway to take the heavy load off the Intercontinental group which operates in the four major Pakistani cities.
There is a price, however, for overcoming most restrictions. Current prices for smuggled Indian liquor in Pakistan's cities are high. Ever since the former prime minister introduced prohibition before the elections last year, Indian liquor has fetched astronomical prices. A bottle of Solan No. 1, or Black Knight, which before prohibition cost Rs 50, is now available with difficulty at Rs 200-250. Smuggled Scotch in Karachi is priced at Rs 350 a bottle.
Smuggling across the Indo-Pak border has been on the increase since the trade route between the two countries opened. Among the most prized items of contraband from India are whisky-of which according to one estimate 20,000 bottles are smuggled each day-betel leaves, bicycle spare parts, and even electric bulbs. A flourishing smuggler stationed in Lahore is said to have established a distillery just across the border on Indian territory, apparently working round the clock to meet the insatiable demand for whisky.
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