KARACHI, Oct 28: The city government on Monday gave a go ahead signal for establishment of an amusement park of international standard and a cricket and football academy at the Kashmir Road Sports Complex for which budget was also approved.

This was announced by City Nazim Naimatullah Khan on the occasion of a prize-distribution ceremony held under the community development department for successful sportsmen of Jashn-i-Azadi cultural and sports festival.

Naimatullah Khan said there was no dearth of talented youth in the city but in the past they were not provided appropriate opportunities and a conducive environment.

He said after establishment of the city government, on the one hand a number of development projects had been launched, while on the other efforts were underway for making available better recreational facilities and playgrounds.

The Nazim said that the youth of Karachi had carved out a niche in the field of sports. Even before 1947, he added, the youth of Lyari used to go to play football in all parts of the subcontinent.

He asked the sports committee chairman in the city council Rahim Dad Baloch, chairman Jashn-i-Azadi festival committee Kazi Sadruddin and EDO community development Hashim Tareen to organize such a programme in Lyari where people associated with sports are invited to participate.

He said the city government had chalked out a coordinated programme for promotion of curriculum and extra-curriculum activities.

The youth would be provided a better academic environment for their positive activities, the city would be made a role model for Pakistan and its economic activities would be revived, he said.

The Nazim said that people had praised the one-year performance of the city government which helped us in bolstering our spirits and encouraged us to work hard.

Earlier, EDO Hashim Tareen said the Nazim had approved a major package for promotion of sports in the city, including the establishment of a cricket and football academy at the Kashmir Road Sports Complex. He said the city government was the first district government in the country to focus attention on sports.

—APP