KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has said revival of cricket has become painful for the citizens of Karachi due to poor planning of the authorities concerned.

Secretary general, Pakistan Medical Association (Centre), Dr S.M. Qaiser Sajjad, in a statement on Monday said that PMA enthusiastically welcomes international cricket and players in Pakistan. It will absolutely boost the soft image of the country and will provide immense leisure to the cricket lovers.

Unfortunately due to the ill planning of the administration this cricket revival has become painful for the people of Karachi due to road blocks for security reasons. The people living around the stadium are miserably distressed because of this traffic mess.

Dr Qaiser Sajjad said this traffic muddle due to cricket activity has resulted in turmoil these days for the people of Karachi. During practice sessions and the Test match between South Africa and Pakistan starting from Jan 26 people will go through a hard time due to closure of roads around the stadium, while there will be immense traffic jams in the city.

He explained that two major hospitals and a few smaller institutions along with isolation centre for Covid-19 at Expo Centre are located in the area. These traffic jams will create havoc for the patients visiting these health facilities for emergencies and treatment. Moreover it will be difficult for doctors and paramedics to reach their hospitals to serve sick people.

People going to their workplaces and coming back to their homes have also been facing hardships due these traffic jams. Moreover closure of roads around the stadium increases the traffic flow at University Road and Rashid Minhas Road which results in heavy traffic jam on both roads.

In this scenario PMA suggested the authorities shift National Stadium out of city, while requesting the authorities to come up with such appropriate traffic plans that do not make the lives of the public difficult. Only close the roads at the arrival and departure of players; let these roads remain open for traffic during the players’ stay at stadium, it has been suggested.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2021