CM lauds well-coordinated efforts of local bodies, security and civic agencies

It is the first time in the city’s history that Karachi has been hosting an uninterrupted series of a cricket mega event with all the final matches of the fourth season of the Pakistan Super League scheduled in the city between March 10 and March 17 (today).

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said this while reviewing the arrangements for the today’s PSL final at the CM House on Saturday. The meeting was attended by Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani, Principal Secretary to CM Sajid Jamal Abro, Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shalwani, Deputy Commissioner East Ahmed Ali Siddiqui and other officers.

The CM had constituted a committee under Ghani to manage the security and other arrangements for the PSL matches in the city. The committee comprised the commissioner, Karachi Water and Sewerage Board Managing Director Asadullah Khan, the deputy commissioner East and others.

Since the National Stadium of Pakistan, where the PSL matches are being played, is located in District East, the deputy commissioner of the district was assigned a Herculean task of ensuring that all the civic agencies were on the same page so that all the required facilities were available to the spectators.

To fulfil the task, meetings were held in which representative of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), district municipal corporations (DMCs), Sindh Solid Waste Management Board, K-Electric and agencies participated to ensure that all the departments were sensitised to their roles during the event.

A number of visits were also made to the stadium to help expedite the process of construction going on there. The CM personally visited the stadium five times to witness the arrangements. It was ensured that all the debris in and around the National Stadium was removed and the entire area was beautified not only by rehabilitating the greenbelts but also with the help of innovative cut-outs, lighting systems, digital streamers and boards.

In this regard, out of the box steps were taken by the district administration which came up with slogans, ‘I LOVE CRICKET’ and ‘KARACHI: THE CRICKET CITY’.

Not only the areas near the National Stadium were beautified but also various roundabouts in the city were adorned with the cut-outs of various players. Festivities with special lighting and sound systems were arranged at many prime locations of the city, including Do Talwaar, Teen Talwaar, Karsaz, Sharea Faisal, Korangi Road and University Road. Musical shows and night activities at various spots, including the Expo triangle, were also arranged.

In order to provide easy access of the National Stadium to the public who wanted to watch the matches, six parking lots were established at the Expo Centre, Hakeem Saeed Ground, Ghareeb Nawaz Football Ground, Mangal Bazaar Ground, Federal Urdu University of Science and Technology and National Coaching Centre (VIP parking). Each of the parking lots was named after different teams participating in the PSL.

Various facilities were also provided at the parking spaces, which included mobile washroom facilities, walkthrough gates with queue channels covered by sheds, tents for people waiting for shuttles, tents and shades for drivers accompanying the spectators, medical camps attended by paramedical staff, illumination, ushers, selfie and autograph booths, CCTV cameras with round the clock surveillance through security booth, information booths and the availability of cold drinking water, food items and beverages.

To take spectators from the parking areas to the stadium and vice versa, a fast and continuous shuttle service was arranged. A shuttle service was also operational within the Expo Centre to carry senior citizens, children and differently-abled spectators from one gate to the other.

Screens with special sound systems were also fixed at the parking areas in order to let the general public, drivers and others to watch the matches. To facilitate such viewers, marquees with chairs were provided at the parking areas.

To deal with any medical emergency, it was ensured that ambulances were available at every parking lot. A sufficient number of sanitation staff was also hired to ensure cleanliness at the stadium as well as the parking lots.

As security measures, metal detectors, under-vehicle searching devices and walkthrough gates were provided at the disembarking points where the shuttles dropped the spectators.

It is also pertinent to mention that it rained heavily before two of the matches for which emergency measures were taken to clear all the roads as well as the parking lots of sludge and rainwater.

The district administration has also arranged fireworks at the end of the final match.

The CM appreciated the efforts made by the local government, commissioner, district administration, KMC, DMCs and others. He also appreciated the hard work of all the law enforcement agencies. “This was a well-coordinated event in the city and I am sure we would be [further] holding such events in the city,” he said.