LYARI has always been renowned for its sports culture, and rightly carries the distinction of being the sports hub of the megacity of Karachi. This is despite the fact that it remains an area marked by deprivation and vulnerability, lacking access to even the most basic of necessities.

The litany of obstacles, however, has failed to dampen the spirit of the talented youth of Lyari, and many of them have had exposure to even the global stage, securing recognition for their skills. Recently, local boxers showed their streak of social awareness by coming together and making a modest contribution to fund the painting of walls aimed at inspiring and engaging area residents, especially the young, in healthy physical activities. Unfor-tunately, the burden of launching and sustaining such a campaign that should have been shouldered by the authorities was actually shouldered by the community itself.

Undoubtedly, it is the primary responsibility of the local government to nurture and support the budding talent by allocating funds to ensure that the potential is not left untapped.

Lyari, with its rich sports legacy and a reservoir of potential, deserves more than mere recognition; it deserves active patronage and support. The residents of this resilient community have demons-trated their talent and determination time and again even in the face of unimaginable adversity.

It is imperative that local government bodies, and sports institutions come forward to provide the much-needed infrastructure, coaching facilities and, indeed, financial support to the people of the area. Such investments in Lyari’s sports culture can be transformative, not only for the individuals involved, but for the entire community, fostering a healthier and more hopeful future.

It is high time we recognised Lyari’s immense potential, and channelised our efforts towards nurturing the talent pool.

Maaz Khan Burfat
Karachi

Published in Dawn, December 3rd, 2023