KARACHI, March 12: Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad has described the one-day cricket match between Pakistan and India here on Saturday as 'a big peace initiative'.

Culmination of the event in a disciplined and peaceful manner would definitely improve the mega city's image in the world that would ultimately help attract foreign investors and tourists, he said while addressing a press conference at the Governor's House on Friday.

Giving details of the foolproof arrangements by the administration to ensure maximum possible security not only to the guest team but also to other visitors and spectators, he said that the aim was to make the event enjoyable.

The governor noted that all concerned agencies, in consultation with the local administration, provincial government and the PCCB, had put in their best capabilities in making the elaborate security arrangements. In this regard, he referred to the planned deployment and patrolling in and around the stadium and traffic arrangements to ensure a smooth flow and trouble-free travel in the entire city.

These measures, he indicated, were widely publicised through media so that no inconvenience was caused to the spectators as well as other citizens. He made an impassioned appeal to the citizens that if anyone, in spite of all these arrangements, faced any trouble, he should exercise restraint.

The governor also pointed out that since no cricket fixture of the kind had been scheduled in Karachi for a long period of time, there was a great deal of excitement among people.

The seating capacity for 33,000 fans was insufficient in view of the great enthusiasm demonstrated by the huge population of the mega city, Dr Ibad said, and added that arrangements had also been made to screen the match live in university hall and cinema houses of different towns so that a maximum number of cricket fans could watch and enjoy the event.

He appealed to all people to demonstrate sportsman spirit and traditional hospitality and encourage both the teams.

PCCB chairman Shaheryar Khan, offering his regrets over the inconvenience faced by the fans in getting the tickets for the match, said that out of the 33,000 available tickets, 5,200 had been sold through the Internet. Another 23,380 tickets were meant for sale through counters in Karachi. Out of them, he added, 14,000 tickets were for reserved seats.

In reply to a question, he ruled out any possibility of match-fixing in presence of the ICC chief as well as its Anti-corruption Unit in the city.

DG Rangers Javed Zia and DIG Traffic Mohammad Yamin Khan also spoke at the press conference.

Speaking at the press conference, Chief Secretary Dr Mutawakkil Kazi pointed out that owing to a remarkable improvement in the city's image, international personalities had started arriving in Karachi.

IGP Syed Kamal Shah briefed newsmen about stringent security measures for the Indian team and other guests. He said that besides heavy presence of police and Ranges personnel, commandos would also be posted at the stadium's gates while surveillance cameras would remain activated inside and outside the stadium to keep a close check on miscreants. Foolproof security arrangements had also been made at the hotels where the guests had been accommodated, he added.