BAGH-E-QUAID-E-AZAM, formerly known as Polo Groud, that is situated between Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed Road and Aiwan-e-Sadar Road, has a special significance on many counts.

It has lot of significance since the first Governor General of Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah took the salute of armed forces at the same venue.

Similarly, Quaid-i-Azam formally inaugurated the first National Games at the premises in April 1948.

An arms exhibition ‘Decorama’ was also staged at the Polo Ground.

A grassy hockey field was developed at the same venue and was named after legendary Olympian late Anwar Ahmed Khan. It ceased to exist long ago.

Before the entire ground was converted into a grassy field, it had served as a venue for friendly cricket matches every weekend as thousands of players used to turn up there, not only from adjoining areas but from far flung ones too.

The Karachi Cricket Association (KCA) office was then located across the road in Abdullah Haroon Muslim Gymkhana with Essa Jaffer as its secretary. It was more than four decades back. Later it moved to the National Stadium.

Unfortunately, the sprawling Polo Ground is not being utilised properly for the last three decades now as it comes under Red Zone with the Governor’s House and two five star hotels close by and the Rangers headquarters across the road. Therefore, thousands of youth in the vicinity have been deprived of the sporting facility.

It is unfortunate that sports culture has faded away during the last quarter-of-a-century in this historic city. Encroachments on many sports venues and facilities have diverted the youth towards anti-social activities and all good work of dedicated organisers have thus been spoiled.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2020