Paradise Point Karachi is the sandstone headland at the far western end of the Hawksbay coast, famous for a natural rock arch that collapsed around 2000. Since 2017 the point itself has been closed to the public, because the land became a Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission reservation next to the Karachi Nuclear Power Complex. Some official notices still mention "Paradise Point" as a guarded beach, so the honest answer is: you may reach the sand near the road, but do not plan a day around the old arch.
This guide explains what is actually there now, how the road and gates work, how to stay safe on this stretch of rocks and surf, and which nearby beaches make a better day out.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Where | Western end of the Hawksbay and Sandspit coast, Keamari district |
| From Saddar | About 32 km by road via Mauripur Road, roughly an hour in normal traffic |
| The arch | Collapsed around 2000; only the rock platform remains |
| Access | Point closed to the public since 2017; security gates on the approach |
| Best months | November to February, when the sea is calmer |
| Avoid | June to September, when swimming bans are common |
What was Paradise Point, and what is left?
For decades Paradise Point was one of Karachi's best known picnic spots. A sandstone promontory ran out into the Arabian Sea, and the sea had worn a hole right through it, so families came to photograph the arch and walk out on the flat rock at low tide. Before 2017 the beach beside it had camel and horse rides, snack stalls and small amusement rides.
The arch no longer exists. Most accounts say it broke up around 2000, after heavy rain and years of salt water eating into the soft rock. What remains is the rock platform and the sandy beach on either side of it. Many old guides, and some travel listing sites, still describe the arch as if it were standing, which is why first-time visitors are often disappointed.
Is Paradise Point open to visitors?
The point itself is not. In 2017 the federal government, through the Ministry of Energy, acquired the area as a reservation for the nuclear power complex, and entry now needs security clearance. Karachi's original nuclear plant, KANUPP, sits right beside the point, and newer reactor units were built next to it from the mid-2010s.
The picture is not completely clear-cut, though:
- Construction changed the road in 2014. Dawn reported that new boundary walls, gates and a diverted road around the K-2 site confused visitors, with the gate to Paradise Point sometimes open and sometimes shut. The project director said at the time that the diversion was meant to keep the picnic spot and the fishing villages beyond it reachable.
- Visitor reports from 2024 and 2025 say entry was refused and that the place is closed to civilians.
- Dawn's June 2025 report on a beach ban listed Paradise Point, along with Sandspit, Hawksbay and Sea View, as a guarded beach people could still visit.
Our reading is that the name is used loosely, for the stretch of public sand near the road as well as for the old promontory inside the security area. Treat the gate as the final word. If guards wave you back, turn round: arguing at a nuclear site checkpoint never ends well, and photography of the plant and its fences is off limits in any case.
How do you get there?
Paradise Point lies at the end of the coast road that runs past Sandspit and Hawksbay. From Saddar, take M.A. Jinnah Road towards Lyari and pick up Mauripur Road westwards; the whole drive is about 32 km. On a clear weekday morning it takes a little under an hour; on a Sunday afternoon in the cool season it can take much longer, as half the city heads for the same beaches.
A second approach runs inland along the Mubarak Goth road and meets the coast further west. Either way you need your own car, a ride-hailing car or a hired driver: public transport is not a practical option this far along the coast, and you should arrange your return ride before you set off, because signal is unreliable and cars rarely wait out here.
Fill up and buy water in the city. Once you are past the Hawksbay huts, facilities are thin.
Safety on the rocks and in the water
Even when you can reach the shore here, this is not a gentle beach.
- The rock is soft sandstone. It crumbles at the edges, and the surface is slippery where waves wash over it. Keep well back from the seaward edge, and keep children off it altogether.
- Waves come in sets. A calm few minutes can be followed by much bigger waves that sweep across the rock platform.
- The surf is strong and the beach shelves. In May 2017 four people, three of them teenagers, drowned near Paradise Point during a picnic, and families blamed the lack of lifeguards. Wade only where lifeguards are on duty, and never in the monsoon months.
- Swimming bans are routine in summer. Karachi's commissioner imposes Section 144 bans on bathing in the rough-sea months; in June 2025, for example, five unguarded beaches were closed outright. Our guide to the Karachi beach ban explains how these work, and is it safe to swim at Karachi's beaches? covers rip currents and lifeguards.
- Leave before dark. Even in 2014, before the closure, visitors reported that security staff would not let them stay at Paradise Point after sunset.
When is the best time to go?
November to February is the season for the western beaches. The sea is calmer, the air is pleasant at midday, and late afternoon light along this coast is excellent. March is still fine, but April and May turn hot and humid.
From June to September the south-west monsoon drives big swells onto the coast. Swimming bans are likely and the rocks are at their most dangerous. If you want to see the sea in summer, see it from a hut veranda at Hawksbay rather than from a rock platform.
Who should still try it, and what to do instead
Paradise Point is worth a look only if you are already driving along this coast and are curious to see where the arch stood. Go knowing you may be turned back, and have a second beach planned.
For most families, one of these makes a better day:
- Hawksbay, the long sandy beach on the same road, with rows of huts you can rent for the day and lifeguards at the main stretch. See our Hawksbay beach guide.
- French Beach, a walled fishing village with rock pools and clearer water, though you need a hut booking to get in. Our French Beach guide explains how.
- Cape Monze, the headland further west, for a short walk to a lighthouse viewpoint. Read our Cape Monze guide for the road and the walk.
For the rest of Sindh and Balochistan's coast and heritage sites, browse our destinations page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Paradise Point Karachi open?
The headland itself has been closed to the public since 2017, when it became part of the nuclear power complex reservation. Some official notices still list the nearby beach as open and guarded, so the gate on the day decides; go prepared to turn back.
Is the Paradise Point arch still there?
No. The natural arch collapsed around 2000 after heavy rain and long erosion by salt water. Only the rock platform and the beach beside it remain.
How far is Paradise Point from Karachi city?
About 32 km by road from Saddar via Mauripur Road, past Sandspit and Hawksbay. Allow about an hour each way, and more on Sunday afternoons in winter.
Can you swim at Paradise Point?
Only where lifeguards are on duty and no swimming ban is in force, and never from June to September. The beach shelves steeply and the surf is strong; four people drowned here in May 2017.
Is there an entry fee for Paradise Point?
We could not find a current, published fee. The point is closed to the public, and if you reach the public beach nearby, any parking or hut charges are paid on the spot.
Which beach should I visit instead of Paradise Point?
Hawksbay is the easiest choice for families, with huts and lifeguards. French Beach suits snorkelling in winter if you can book a hut, and Cape Monze suits a short coastal walk.