KARACHI – Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab laid the foundation stone for the reconstruction of Shadab Football Ground in Gulberg Town, District Central.
Deputy Mayor Salman Abdullah Murad, City Council Parliamentary Leader Karamullah Waqasi, Deputy Parliamentary Leader Dil Muhammad, other elected representatives, and a large number of residents attended the ceremony.
The project will cost Rs196 million and is expected to be completed in six months. It covers 16,510 square meters, including a 10,400-square-meter football ground and a 6,100-square-meter area for a park and Eidgah. Work is being carried out by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) in collaboration with the Katchi Abadi and Land Department (KALC).
Officials informed the mayor that the renovated ground will have modern facilities such as pavilions, stores, a sewage system, toilets, children’s swings, lighting, seating, green belts, and walking tracks for women and senior citizens. Over 10,000 square meters of grass has been planted, along with 134 trees, 183 shrubs, and 70 ground cover plants.
Speaking at the event, Mayor Wahab said the project aims to promote healthy sports activities among youth.
“Our priority is to restore sports grounds in every district of Karachi so young people have opportunities for positive activities,” he said. “Shadab Ground is a historic place that was once widely used for sports and Eid prayers. We are working to bring it back to life.”
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He said KMC is also starting a project to restore old buildings in Karachi to protect the city’s heritage. The revival of sports grounds is already under way, with Kikri, Gazari Football Stadium, and Sherpao Ground in Lyari completed, and plans for a large sports complex in Kemari.
The mayor assured that the Shadab Ground project will be finished by November 2025 and will have facilities for youth, women, and senior citizens. He said development projects are continuing across Karachi without discrimination, including the repair of major roads like Rashid Talab Road and Landhi Kotal Road.
“In District Central, we will spend Rs5 billion to improve basic facilities,” he announced, adding that he will also visit Karachi Metropolitan University to work on improving education.
Mayor Wahab said all institutions are working together for the city’s progress. He stressed unity against any threats to Pakistan’s security and called freedom a blessing earned through sacrifices.
He also commented on Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori’s claim of releasing Rs40 billion for Karachi. “We have not received a single rupee in KMC accounts,” he said, adding that the public deserves to know the truth.
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On encroachments, he said action against illegal structures on drains is on hold due to a court stay order obtained by MQM-Pakistan, which is affecting the drainage system.
The mayor said KMC hospitals are being upgraded, nurses will get training on scholarships, and free testing facilities will be introduced. Old wells in Burns Garden have been restored, and new water storage tanks are being built near the Arts Council, Sindh Secretariat, and KMC headquarters to store rainwater.
He added that street stalls need regulation to benefit the city’s economy. Around Rs20–25 billion will be spent this year on infrastructure, health, water, sanitation, and public facilities.
“Our aim is to ensure that every citizen of Karachi gets equal access to basic services,” he concluded.
