KARACHI, July 8: The City Government has failed to organize sport competitions and tournaments, including the ones regularly held under the defunct Karachi Metropolitan Corporation.
The lethargic attitude of the officials concerned together with a total lack of planning are the two main reasons for the decline in sporting activities in the city.
The defunct KMC used to organize various sport events regularly, such as the annual Ramazan Festival which included 10 sports — the All Karachi KMC Cup Football Tournament, KMC Cup Tennis Tournament, All Karachi Cricket Tournament, etc.
Besides this, the KMC regularly held summer coaching camps during school vacations. Though a summer camp is presently being organized at the KMC Sports Complex on Kashmir Road, the summer camp has been organized without intimating schoolchildren.
Sport activities started shrinking in the KMC ever since administrators were appointed instead of an elected council and mayor. After the formation of the City Government, sporting activities have continued to shrink in Karachi. The authorities also raise hue and cry about the shortage of funds to organize such events.
Every year a handsome amount was sanctioned by the defunct KMC to organize sport events. Presently, there is no shortage of grounds, gymnasiums, sports complexes international-level football and cricket stadiums, swimming pools, etc.
Citizens now keenly await the announcement to revive sport competitions in Karachi, as promised by the City Government to sportsmen and sportswomen. However, no progress has been reported so far.—PPI
