Jheel Park to get tape-ball cricket ground

A tape ball ground for cricket at Jheel Park is being established, said Administrator Karachi Murtaza Wahab on Saturday.

"We will also set up courts to play badminton so that the residents of the neighborhood and the youth can showcase their talents in these sports," the administrator said this on the occasion of a detailed visit to Jheel Park, Tariq Road.

He was accompanied by Metropolitan Commissioner Syed Afzal Zaidi, Director General Parks Junaidullah Khan, Senior Director Culture and Sports Saif Abbas, Senior Director Anti Encroachment Bashir Siddiqui, Senior Director Media Management Ali Hassan Sajid, Director City Warden Raja Rustam and other officials.

Administrator Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab said that Jheel Park is an ancient park of Karachi, adding that the Qabza mafia had occupied the park and established encroachments but now it had been removed from.

The park has been maintained and a large number of plants and seasonal flowers have been planted to make it look even better. He said that rehabilitation work of parks under KMC was underway while playgrounds were also being improved and allocated for various sports.

Barrister Murtaza Wahab said that opportunities for sports activities are very important for the youth because when the youth are attracted to healthy activities, they will not fall prey to anti-social elements and criminals

. He said that Karachi is a city of cricket fans but this city has also produced world renowned players in hockey, football, squash, badminton and boxing. He said that the rehabilitation work of the parks is in full swing and soon all the abandoned parks will be opened for the citizens.

"As a civic body, it is our (KMC) responsibility to provide a better and cleaner environment to the citizens as well as to provide facilities to the new generation through which they can utilize their potential," he said. He directed the Senior Director Culture and Sports to make arrangements for holding the cricket tournament.

Barrister Murtaza Wahab urged the citizens to guard the parks in their respective areas. He said that public parks are for the convenience of the people and the people are the owners of them. He said that it is the responsibility of every citizen to protect their property