KARACHI, Dec 8: The Karachi Race Club (KRC) was anxiously waiting to receive Rs4m released from the Sindh government. The money was pledged by the Sindh chief minister and the Sindh governor separately during their visits to the KRC.

The governor had announced a sum of Rs2m for the KRC while gracing the Quaid-i-Azam Cup in last Dececember whereas the chief minister made a similar announcement of Rs.2m on the occasion of Independence Day earlier this year.

‘Despite hectic efforts, the KRC has failed to get the money released,’ Administrator of the club, Faqir Syed Aitzazuddin told Dawn on Thursday.

He disclosed that due to delay in getting the funds released, the KRC could not embark on the proposed development work.

Spread over a huge area of 245.1 acre, the KRC plans to lay green turf on the two sprinting courses and use each of them for the races on alternate Sunday. The laying of the turf would cost around Rs1m, he added.

Presently, he said, the KRC had to incur huge amount of money on purchase of around 200 trucks of sand annually for laying on the sprinting course. When materialise, the KRC would be able to save the cost, the KRC chief said.

The administrator said KRC had recently spent Rs1m on laying a sewerage line to get the water for the course to lessen the burden of purchasing approximately 100 water tankers daily.

Plans to improve the surroundings, constructing a club house, besides adding other facilities for members and the weekly race goers are also on card.

The KRC has a total strength of around 400 plus members, including ladies, who altogether own approximately 450 horses.