KARACHI: Landhi-Korangi Sports Complex will be opened for the city’s sports fraternity within the next couple of months, as Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab has issued directives to the KMC Sports Department to ensure its early opening, The News has learnt.
The Landhi-Korangi Sports Complex, which remained closed for more than a decade, was constructed at a cost of millions of rupees. Although the project was completed in 2016, it could not be opened due to various reasons.
It is pertinent to mention that this is the city’s third multipurpose sports complex offering a swimming pool facility. In addition, the complex has facilities for both indoor and outdoor sports competitions, making it one of the most comprehensive sports venues in Karachi.
Taking notice of the prolonged delay in its opening, the city mayor directed the concerned department to carry out renovation, and take corrective measures. He also instructed officials to ensure the appointment of the required sports staff to run the complex smoothly.
Sources said that Senior Director Sports and Culture Department KMC, Mehdi Maloof Zaidi, has been assigned the responsibility of overseeing the opening of the Landhi-Korangi Sports Complex.
Officials in the KMC Sports Department revealed that due to the long closure of the complex, extensive renovation and development work is required before it can be made functional. However, maintenance and renovation work has already started and is expected to continue during the month of February.
Sources expressed hope that maintenance, renovation and other necessary development work would be completed within a couple of months. Once operational, the complex will provide much-needed sports facilities to athletes of various disciplines and to citizens, particularly residents of Landhi and Korangi.
It was further stated that at least 12 employees of the Sports Department, including technical experts, will be required to operate and manage the complex. Despite the availability of state-of-the-art facilities, budding sportsmen, sportswomen and residents of Landhi, Korangi and adjoining areas have remained deprived of sports activities for years due to the complex’s closure. The project was initiated in 1987 and completed in 2014. However, it remained closed thereafter because of multiple administrative and logistical issues.
The Landhi-Korangi Sports Complex offers modern indoor and outdoor sports facilities, including tennis, badminton, swimming, table tennis, roller skating, squash, gymnastics, volleyball, martial arts and snooker. The project was conceived and executed to meet the sporting needs of the youth of Landhi and Korangi, who previously had limited access to sports facilities located in other parts of the city.
