Hamara Karachi Festival: ‘Donkey-cart racing is pride of the city’

[Naveed Yaseen]

KARACHI: Donkey-cart racing is the pride of the city and this sport is kept alive by the youth of Lyari.

Acting City Nazim Nasreen Jalil said this while addressing the participants of the donkey-race at Kothari Parade in Clifton on Sunday.

Talking to Daily Times, Saddar Town Nazim Muhammad Dilawar said that Jalil has given cash prizes including Rs 10,000, Rs 7,000 and Rs 5,000 for first, second and third positions respectively while the rest of the contestants were given Rs 500 each. The acting city nazim has constituted a four-member committee that will single out the top class donkey cart racers. In this regard, it has been decided that donkey cart races will be held every three months and leading performers will be subjected to exclusive trials and the best performers in the trials will be given cash rewards on regular basis, said Dilawar. Pakistan Sports Donkey Cart Race Federation organised the donkey cart race, under the Hamara Karachi festival 2009, which started from Gul Bai in Keamari Town and ended at the Jehangir Kothari Parade in Clifton. The participants covered a distance of seven kilometers. The race was started by Keamari Town Nazim Muhammad Humayun Khan at Gul Bai on Sunday afternoon.

The donkey cart race was participated by 35 people. Pir Muhammad won the race reaching the finish line in just 13.2 minutes, Saleem Japani secured the second position as he reached the finish line in 13.4 minutes and Asghar Badshah came third for reaching the finish line in 13.7 minutes. On the occasion, the youth of Lyari performed traditional folk dances and played songs. MQM City Council members and Donkey Cart Race Federation’s Honorary General Secretary Sheikh Nisar Ahmed Siddiqui were also present. staff report

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