Under-fire KMC accord befitting farewell to unsung hero

Pakistan News & Features Services

The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), which has remained in the spotlight more often than not for wrongdoings in the recent past, certainly scored a point by bidding farewell to one of their unsung heroes, Nadeemuddin Khan, in a graceful manner. He retired from service as Deputy Director at the age of superannuation on December 27. 

The farewell ceremony was organized by the corporation’s sports and culture department at the famous KMC Sports Complex, located at Kashmir Road, on January 3 which was also attended by senior officers, including head of the organization, besides media personalities and sports organizers.

The opening speech was delivered by Syed Khalid Mahmood, a veteran journalist, author and analyst, who precisely shed light on the career of Nadeemuddin Khan, recalling the early and mid of 1990s when the KMC’s sports and culture department was in the able hands of Saif-ur-Rahman Grami. 

“Those were the times when the KMC sports and culture department worked with incredible zeal and enthusiasm in its mandated territories. It was the golden period in their history as they undertook the arduous tasks with smile on their faces. Nadeemuddin Khan was an integral member of the team which earned glories for the department, the corporation and the city,” Khalid Mahmood recognized. 

“Although he worked under the shadow of his officers, he was always noted for his presence and contribution. He was one of those guys who worked round the clock many a times to complete the works assigned to him. Be it drafting press releases at office or supervising installation of tents at venues of various events he was observed carrying out the assignment most responsibly,” the senior journalist complimented. 

Dr Saif-ur-Rahman, Administrator, KMC, echoed similar sentiments while praising Nadeemuddin Khan, much to the delight of the now retired unsung hero, who was encouraged to continue a purposeful and fulfilled life in the coming years. 

While the KMC chief was generous in acknowledging his role in the many successful events organized by the corporation over the years, he didn’t accede to the request of the departmental head, Saif Abbas, for re-employing him on contract basis for some time to complete the unfinished tasks. 

 Nadeemuddin Khan, overwhelmed by the occasion, looked a bit emotional and nervous in his speech but he emphatically urged the authorities to extend support to My Karachi Games, masterminded by him, which has been delayed due to lack of seed money. 

Rehana Saif, Jamil Farooqui, Saif Abbas and Shahid Nawab were among the other speakers who lavishly commended Nadeemuddin Khan for doing a great job over the years. Syed Khurshid Shah and Naheed Abida, who have been his departmental colleagues for decades, were also in attendance during the ceremony.

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KMC-PBSA sign MoU to build snooker academy

By Syed Khalid Mahmood

Upon the advice of the Governor of Sindh, Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has provided a piece of land to the Pakistan Billiards & Snooker Association (PBSA) to let them develop a snooker academy here at the junction of Kashmir Road and New M A Jinnah Road.

Alamgir Anwar Shaikh, President, PBSA, who signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in this regard with Mohammad Hussain Syed, Administrator, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), at the Karachi Gymkhana on September 15, recorded his appreciation for the Governor of Sindh for the pivotal role in getting the plot allotted for the snooker academy. 

The PBSA President also acknowledged the consistent support of Ahmed Chinoy, Chief of the Citizen Police Liaison Committee (CPLC), who counter-signed the MoU as a witness, for overcoming red-tape. 

 Rehan Khan, Senior Director, Culture and Sports, KMC, who signed as the other witness to the MoU, was also recognized for having extended cooperation to the PBSA.

Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, Secretary Youth Affairs to the Government of Sindh, was also present on the occasion alongwith Ali Rahim, President, Karachi Gymkhana, and Anjum Nisar, ex-President, Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI). 

A large number of office-bearers and members of the PBSA attended the signing ceremony but one notable gentleman missing out was none other Ali Asghar Valika, who led the Association with distinction for nearly two decades, and a snooker academy was a part of his own vision. 

Speaking on the occasion Mohammad Hussain Syed, Administrator, KMC, disclosed that a plot measuring around 2,250 square yards has been allotted to the PBSA for a period of 25 years, in pursuance of its policy of public-private partnership, and the lease would be extendable at the end of the stipulated period. 

“Besides carrying on the infrastructure projects in the city, the KMC is fulfilling its responsibility of creating facilities for the people for sports, recreation and entertainment. The snooker academy would be greatly helpful in polishing the skills of Karachi’s cueists in particular,” he believed.

Mohammad Hussain Syed, seeking the support of the private sector in creating more facilities for the people of Karachi, advised the PBSA officials to run the snooker academy on self-sustaining basis in the larger interest of the sport. 

Alamgir Anwar Shaikh, President, PBSA, revealed that the snooker academy will be built in two phases with the construction of a couple halls to be carried out in the initial phase with the emphasis of having a venue of its own for the national ranking competitions. 

“We will be constructing two halls, one of them to be used for organizing championship matches and the other one to be utilized for holding practice matches. In the second phase we plan for vertical expansion by building 10 to 12 rooms upstairs where the outstanding cueists would be lodged,” he stated. 

“Once we get the site plans we will have the academy complex designed. The costs to be incurred on construction will only be known when the drawings are approved. We have a few friends who, considering it a national cause, are willing to contribute for the project as it will definitely help in raising standard of snooker and creating more medal-winning opportunities for the nation,” Alamgir Shaikh added.

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