Sports heroes to be honoured on Independence Day

Karachi to be decorated to celebrate Pakistan’s outstanding athletes

KARACHI: The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) will hold various Independence Day-related programmes in the city from today (Tuesday) till August 14 to honour the nation’s sports heroes, announced Mayor Wasim Akhtar. The theme of the programmes will be ‘Champions ka Pakistan’.

He was addressing a press conference at the KMC Officers Club on Monday where he was joined by Olympian Islahuddin, former test cricketer Shoaib Muhammad, Deputy Mayor Arshad Vohra, East District Municipal Corporation (DMC) Chairman Moeed Anwar, Central DMC Chairman Rehan Hashmi and other local body representatives.

Akhtar said the celebrations and programmes are being jointly organised by the KMC Officers Welfare Association and KMC.



He said we have achieved this country after uncountable sacrifices, therefore, we have to serve this country with honesty to realise the dream of its founders. Though it is a reality that we could not achieve in terms of development, education and health what we should have achieved earlier, it is never too late, said the mayor, adding that people must put aside their differences and lead the country on to the path of prosperity.

Regarding his plans for the celebration of Pakistan’s 70th Independence Day, Akhtar said that they have decided to celebrate it alongside the country’s champions and remember their services in cricket, hockey, squash, boxing, football and other sports. He said programmes in all the DMCs of the city will be organised and national sporting heroes, including captain of the cricket team Sarfaraz Ahmed and other sports legends, will be invited. The events will be open to the public so they too can interact with their heroes.

The mayor announced that the city will be decorated with flags and lights, and old large photos of the nation’s sporting heroes will be set up at roundabouts. He also mentioned a tree plantation drive that will be started on August 7.



Akhtar said 20,000 national flags will be hoisted all over the city and all the roundabouts of the city will be decorated. The old KMC building will be illuminated and a huge national flag will be hoisted there, he said.

He mentioned that the main flag hoisting ceremony will be organised at the mausoleum of Quaid-i-Azam on August 14 and schoolchildren will also be invited to participate.