KARACHI: All is set for the upcoming 2nd Commissioner Karachi City Marathon, to be held on Jan 12 with over 1,000 people already having registered to participate in the event.

The registration for participation in the marathon will continue until an hour before the start of the race at 9:00am.

Briefing the media-persons at his office, Commissioner Iftikhar Shallwani said that registration for the marathon is open and invited people, including children, youth and senior citizens to also come forward and take part in the event to further boost the credentials of Karachi as a city of sports and peace.

The Commissioner said spot registration for the race would also be carried out at the Moin Khan Academy, DHA - the starting and terminating points of the 10-kms race.

The head of the organizing committee of the event, Deputy Commissioner South Syed Salahuddin Ahmed, the representative of the event’s sponsor Waqar Ahmad, who is head of Corporate Affairs Nestlé Pakistan, former hockey star Islahuddin and coordinator Ghulam Mohammad were also present on the occasion.

Iftikhar Shallwani asks Karachiites to participate in big numbers

“The competition will be for under-19, under-29, and 30-plus categories for both men and women”, said the commissioner and added that special categories for disable and senior citizens are also included in the event.

He said that ten prizes each in every category would be given to the winners. “I would like to invite all citizens to come forward and participate in the marathon to raise awareness that Karachi is a peaceful, safe and secure city,” said Shallwani and added that the marathon was a way to bring the citizens of Karachi together.

“Athletic activities such as these can energize the youth and give them a way to take ownership of the city,” he said.The commissioner further said that the city administration wanted the marathon to become the city’s significant event for peace and harmony and be a regular event like other big cities in the world. “Karachiites have always needed an event of their own, that they could earmark every year, and participate in full force,” he added.

Waqar Ahmad, speaking on the occasion, said: “We are glad that we have partnered with Commissioner Karachi for this marathon. Nestlé believes that ‘sports’ is a great teacher and values learnt from sports helps to become successful well-rounded individuals of future.

DC South Syed Salahuddin said that the marathon will begin from Moin Khan Academy at Khayaban-e-Tipu and passing through Abdul Sattar Edhi Avenue to Captain Farhan Shaheed Park to Khayaban-e-Ittehad and back to Moin Khan Academy.

Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2020