Donkey-cart racers keep Karachi’s traditional sport alive
KARACHI: Commissioner of Karachi Syed Hassan Naqvi on Sunday organised Azadi Donkey-Cart Race as part of Independence Day celebrations, with around 40 donkey carts participating in the traditional sporting event. The race started at 8:30am from Native Jetty Bridge and concluded at the commissioner’s office. The commissioner attended the event as chief guest and distributed prizes among the…
Karachi’s Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi inaugurated the Azadi Donkey-Cart Race on Sunday, as part of the city’s Independence Day festivities. Over 40 participants took to the track, racing their donkey carts from Native Jetty Bridge to the commissioner’s office. The commissioner presided over the event as chief guest and handed out prizes to the victorious riders.
Additional Inspector General of Police Azad Khan and Deputy Inspector General Traffic Syed Pir Muhammad Shah were also in attendance. The officials praised the event as a means to promote sports, peace, and positive activities throughout the city.
Naqvi revealed the names of the winners: Koel took first place, with Majid Baloch as the winner’s rider; Peeral claimed second position, ridden by Cheema; and Shah Jahan secured third place, with Lal Badshah as the rider. The triumphant cart owners and their riders were greeted with chants of “Pakistan Zindabad” and congratulated by the commissioner.
Naqvi emphasized that the race was aimed at reviving Karachi’s traditional sports and preserving its cultural heritage. He noted that such activities would bolster peace in the city and bolster the government’s efforts to encourage sports and wholesome recreational pursuits.
Additional IGP Azad Khan highlighted the race as part of the city’s initiatives to foster positive engagements, recalling that he had followed donkey-cart races since his youth, growing up in Keamari. Khan reminisced about the days when races started from Native Jetty Bridge along Mauripur Road and were a favored pastime that drew large crowds.
He lamented the decreasing numbers of participants and spectators over time, crediting Naqvi’s event for helping maintain the sport’s vitality. Khan also extended his gratitude to the commissioner and urged continued support to safeguard the tradition.
Syed Pir Muhammad Shah, DIG Traffic, echoed the sentiment, stating that the donkey-cart race is an integral part of Karachi’s cultural heritage. He affirmed that the event was a significant step in keeping the traditional sport alive in the city.
Written by urgent.news from Dawn - Pakistan's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
