KARACHI The entertainment-starved people of Karachi, particularly children, are in for a treat shortly as four dolphins and two sea lions are coming here from Russia to perform in dolphin shows scheduled to begin from October 1.

Briefing journalists here at the Pakistan Maritime Museum, where the shows are going to be held, Mustafa Kamal of the Talent Brokers International said that these shows would be organised on a daily basis from Oct 1.

He said four dolphins and two sea lions along with their five trainers/handlers and two veterinarians would be arriving by mid-September so that they got acclimatised before the start of the shows.

He said that a Moscow-based international company — Utrish Dolphinarium Ltd — would be bringing in the sea creatures to perform here.

He said the dolphin shows would be held here for 45 days and depending on their popularity the programme might be extended for another month or so. After Karachi, the shows would be held in Lahore, he added.

He said four shows would be held on a daily basis i.e. two in the morning and two in the evening having duration of one hour each. The ticket for a child and an adult will be Rs250 and Rs450, respectively.

Special children would be admitted free of charge and special shows would be organised for the children coming from the Edhi Home and other such organisations, he added.

He said that the construction of four swimming pools had already begun and these would be ready by the time the Russian guests arrived.

He said that the show pool was 100 feet long, 50 feet wide and 15 feet deep while three smaller pools would be used as resting places for dolphins and sea lions. He said that over 4,000 seats would be fixed around the pool for visitors.

He did not agree with a question that the entrance fee was high. He informed the newsmen that entrance fee to a similar show in Dubai for a child and an adult cost 150 dirham and 250 dirham, respectively.

Later, Sindh Environment Minister Shaikh Afzal said that it would be a unique show.