KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that the peace restored in Karachi had given a boost to sports, arts and crafts, literary and other healthy activities.

“This city has given us a lot and now we all together have to pay back to this city to turn it into one of the most prosperous, beautiful, peaceful cities again,” he added.

The chief minister said this while speaking as the chief guest at the ‘First Commissioner Karachi Marathon’ programme organised at the Moin Khan Academy here on Sunday.

Says the marathon race event held after a gap of 30 years

“I am sure this would further encourage the people to play their due role for the peace and prosperity in Karachi,” he said.

Recalling that the city of Karachi was bogged down in worst law and order for around one decade and every healthy activity had shied away, he said: “We planned to restore peace in the city with our sincere efforts and the credit goes to police, Rangers and Pakistan Army for restoring peace but on top of them the credit goes to Karachiites who rendered a lot of sacrifices and support the operation,” he said.

He said that the final match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) was held in the city last year and then these activities increased manifold. “This year five PSL matches will be played in the city which shows the confidence of the international community on Karachi,” he added.

The chief minister congratulated the Karachi commissioner and his team for organising such a beautiful healthy event after a gap of 30 years. “This is the start of Marathon event and next year this event would be organised with more participation and more vigour,” he said.

Mr Shah also thanked the sponsors of the event and urged them to keep supporting such healthy activities in the city. “This city has given us a lot and now we all together have to pay back to this city so that it can again become a seat of learning and one of the most prosperous, beautiful, peaceful cities,” he said.

Earlier, the chief minister distributed prizes among the winners in different categories. Commissioner Iftikhar Shahalwani presented a memento to the CM.

The programme was also attended by Home Secretary Kazi Kabir and others.

Talking to the media, the chief minister said that not only sports and other healthy activities improved in the city but trade and business activities were also flourishing.

PSL security may inconvenience people

In reply to a question, he said that the PSL would be a great event and he himself had chaired a joint meeting of the PSL organisers, law enforcement agencies and divisional administration and hoped again it would be a great and memorable event in the city.

He said that strict security measures would be taken for PSL matches and it may cause some problems for the people but it would be his utmost effort to cause minimum inconvenience to the people.

“This is our event and every resident of Karachi will be the host of PSL players, participants and organisers; therefore inconvenience will not make any difference,” he said.

Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2019