KARACHI: Commissioner of Karachi Syed Hassan Naqvi on Sunday organised Azadi Donkey-Cart Race as part of Independence Day celebrations, with around 40 donkey carts participating in the traditional sporting event.

The race started at 8:30am from Native Jetty Bridge and concluded at the commissioner’s office.

The commissioner attended the event as chief guest and distributed prizes among the winners.

Additional Inspector General of Police Azad Khan and Deputy Inspector General Traffic Syed Pir Muhammad Shah were also present on the occasion.

The officials described the event as an effort to promote sports and strengthen peace and positive activities in the city.

Mr Naqvi announced the names of the winning donkey carts and their riders and congratulated them.

Koel secured first position, with Majid Baloch declared its winning rider.

Peeral secured second position, with Cheema as its rider, while Shah Jahan won third position, with Lal Badshah finishing as its rider.

The winners were announced amid chants of Pakistan Zindabad and were congratulated by the commissioner.

Mr Naqvi said the race was organised to revive Karachi’s traditional sports and preserve its cultural heritage.

He said such activities would help strengthen peace in the city and support the government’s efforts to promote sports and healthy recreational activities.

Speaking on the occasion, Additional IGP Azad Khan said the donkey-cart race was part of efforts to promote positive activities in Karachi, adding that the people of Karachi, particularly residents of Lyari, deserved appreciation for keeping the tradition alive.

“I am a resident of Karachi and have lived here since childhood. I grew up in Keamari and have many memories associated with the city,” he said.

Azad Khan recalled that he had watched donkey-cart races since his childhood and that, in the past, races used to begin from Native Jetty Bridge along Mauripur Road and were a popular sport attracting a large number of people.

He said the number of spectators and people associated with the sport had declined over the time, adding that the initiative by the Karachi commissioner was an important step towards keeping the traditional sport alive.

He thanked the commissioner for organising the race and called for greater patronage to preserve the sport.

DIG Traffic Syed Pir Muhammad Shah said the donkey-cart race was one of Karachi’s traditional sports and an important part of the city’s cultural heritage.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2026