Sports activities at YMCA ground to be restored soon: Shallwani

KARACHI: The Commissioner and Administrator Karachi Iftikhar Shallwani on Sunday morning visited the YMCA to inspect the ongoing construction and installation of the grill for boundary wall and allied work for the protection of the historic ground to make sure sports activities at the venue could begin at the earliest.

The City administration on the directives of the Supreme Court, has removed the illegal marriage lawns/halls and other encroachments from the YMCA which is a famous and historic place for sports activities in Karachi.

The commissioner, while inspecting the construction work, started for the construction of walls, hockey ground and other allied work there.

He ordered the officials concerned to ensure the construction work is completed in a month’s time.

Shallwani said the YMCA is a historic place and holds importance worldwide for the promotion of sports activities.

“It has provided good opportunities to Karachi youth and helped groom them in way that many of them have achieved global recognition and success particularly in hockey,” Shallwani underlined.

He added that said the city administration would play its role effectively to revive all sports which were previously being held at the YMCA as soon as possible.

The Commissioner-Administrator was informed that apart from the installation of a grill, an underground water reservoir, jogging track of 8-10 feet width would be constructed and tree plantation would be undertaken alongside the track.

It was also informed that the arrangements are being made with the support of the Karachi Hockey Association to organise a match between Quaid-e-Azam Hockey Eleven and Quaid-e-Millat Hockey Eleven on Dec 25.

Deputy Commissioner South Irshad Ali, YMCA Sports Secretary Baber Paul and Project Director Ghulam Server Chachar were also present on the occasion.