KARACHI:
Every time a cricket match is held in Karachi, the roads surrounding the National Stadium are blocked in order to provide security to the players. Although the traffic is diverted towards different routes, commuters get stuck in severe traffic jams lasting hours. Furthermore, the lockdown-like situation causes much inconvenience for those living in the adjoining areas.
During the recent test match between Pakistan and South Africa, the Karachi traffic police issued a statement saying that all roads leading to the stadium would be closed between 9am and 6pm. As a result, the main arteries of the city were blocked for hours as commuters were diverted to multiple other routes.
The officials concerned should realise that in a densely populated mega-city, such as Karachi, it is not enough to draw up alternate routes for travelers. The PCB should invest in building hotels within the stadium premises so that international as well as domestic cricketers are able to stay there and the traffic mess in the city could be avoided.
Iraj Mahmood
Karachi
Published in The Express Tribune, February 7th, 2021.
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