The Clifton Fish Aquarium, was an aquarium

Public aquarium

A public aquarium is the aquatic counterpart of a zoo, housing living aquatic species for viewing. Most public aquariums feature tanks larger than those kept by home aquarists, as well as smaller tanks. Since the first public aquariums were built in the mid-19th century, they have become popular...

 located in Clifton

Clifton, Karachi

Clifton is one of the neighbourhoods of Saddar Town in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.-Demographics:There are several ethnic groups in Clifton including Pakhtuns, Muhajirs, Sindhis, Punjabis, Kashmiris, Seraikis, Balochs, Memons, Tanolis, etc. Over 99% of the population is Muslim...

 near Abdullah Shah Ghazi

Abdullah Shah Ghazi

Abdullah Shah Ghazi is considered to be patron saint of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. He is widely revered in Pakistan. His tomb is also a revered Sindhi shrine especially for the Bawarij Sindhi Muslims and the Samma tribe....

’s shrine in Karachi

Karachi

Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...

, Pakistan

Pakistan

Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...

 between 1965 and 1998. Several attempts were made to reopen the aquarium after the initial closing, but it remains closed.

History

The now defunct Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) built the aquarium in Clifton in 1965 in collaboration with Japanese experts. The aquarium had 33 seawater exhibition tanks where sea-based fish were kept, and 14 fresh water tanks exhibiting fish species that live in fresh water. It was the only fish aquarium in the city, drew up to one million visitors per year, and was one of hte largest revenue generators for the KMC.

The Clifton Fish Aquarium was closed in 1998 because of its "delapidated" condition. Re-opening was announced for March and then October of 2005, additional funds were allocated by the city in the 2007-2008 budget, the 2008-2009 budget, and again in the 2009-2010 budget, but the aquarium remains closed.