KARACHI: CM declares holiday in Karachi for cricket match
KARACHI, March 5: Sindh Chief Minister Ali Mohammed Mahar has announced holiday in Karachi on the occasion of one-day cricket match between Pakistan and India on March 13.
The arrangements for the one-day match were reviewed at a meeting held under the chairmanship of chief minister at CM House here on Friday. Mr Mahar said that the cricket match between Pakistan and India in Karachi was an honour for the whole province.
He said, "The respect for guests is a part of our traditions." He expressed hope that the people of Sindh would give a practical demonstration of their traditional hospitality, sincerity and respect for the visitors.
The chief minister said that the administration and law enforcment agencies would make the event a success. He appealed to citizens to extend full cooperation to administration and law enforcers for maintenance of law and order.
He said that local holiday had been announced to enable the people to watch the match. He expressed hope that the people of Sindh would show love, sincerity and hospitality to welcome Indian team. After this match, he said, the series of other forthcoming international matches would start in Karachi.
The meeting discussed all arrangements for the match in detail. The meeting was told that two committees had been formed for the match. The committee, headed by IGP, would make security arrangements while the other headed by DCO would be responsible for other arrangements.
The IGP informed the meeting that all security measures had been taken for the match. He said all facilities would be provided to local and international media teams for coverage of the match.
The meeting was told that all roads leading to the National Stadium would be tastefully decorated to mark the event. It was informed that the National Stadium had a seating capacity of 33,000 and the people, who were unable to get ticket, could watch the match at home as it would be directly shown by the PTV and other channels.
Ali Mahar said that the government was planning to construct a new cricket stadium of international standard. He said that the new stadium would have a capacity to accommodate 50,000 spectators and would provide all facilities of international standard.
Among others, the meeting was attended by Advisor Home Aftab Shaikh, Chief Secretary Dr Mutawakkal Kazi, IGP Syed Kamal Shah, City Nazim Naimatullah Khan, DCO Mir Hussain Ali, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Syed Anwaar Haider, CCPO Karachi Asad Ashraf Malik, Zakir Khan of Pakistan Cricket Board and General Manager National Stadium Razaullah Khan. -APP
