KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed the administration to start beautification of the city ahead of the final match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Presiding over a meeting to review PSL final match arrangements on Friday, he said, “This is the first such event in the city and it should be followed by many other international events.” The chief minister was told that eight parking areas were being designated to facilitate those driving to the venue to watch the match. These are: the National Coaching Center for VVIP vehicles, Expo Center for VIP vehicles, Gharib Nawaz Football ground, Hakim Saeed Playground University Road, open ground near Federal Urdu University, Sunday Bazar ground opposite Bait-ul-Mukharam Masjid, KMC sports complex, KDA Club, and China Ground on Kashmir Road. The combined capacity of these parking areas will be of 33,000 vehicles. The parking areas will have the facilities like barriers, queue channels and walk through gates – a separate arrangements would be made for women spectators, CCTV cameras, resting area for drivers, public washrooms, tuck shops, medical camps, signage, public address system and proper illumination of the areas. At this, the chief minister directed the administration to install big screens in all parking spaces so that the drivers accompanies the spectators could watch the match in the parking area. The chief minister was told that there would be enough space for around 6,000 motorcycles. The participants of the meeting suggested that a day-long ban should be imposed on pillion riding on motorcycles. The Chief Minister, however, rejected the suggestion, saying that the youth of the city had a right to celebrate on the day. There would be three designated disembarking points: Bahria University, Expo Center and Rana Liaquat Ali Khan Govt Girls College. At this, the chief minister directed the administration to hire 300 buses for a shuttle service from these disembarking points to the stadium. The buses for shuttle service may be hired for two days, he said. Besides the designated parking areas, the shuttle service could be used to travel to the match venue from several other landmarks across the city. In total, the service would be available at 47 points. “I want you to facilitate the people properly – this is their event and let them enjoy it and own it,” he said. He also directed the administration to get the services of 200 scouts from Sindh Boys Scouts Association. The services to be made available at the stadium included mobile hospitals, ambulances, water bowsers, sanitation staff, sanitation vehicles, regulated food and hospitality services, and central control room. A separate plan has also been made for managing the post-match situation. Under the arrangement, shuttle service would be started from the stadium to all disembarking points, from disembarking points to parking areas. At this, the chief minister directed the administration to arrange a 30 to 50-minute musical show just at the end of the match so that any chaotic situation could be avoided. “In this way, we would be able to engage the crowd through entertainment,” he said. The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, Sohail Anwar Siyal, Jam Khan Shoro, Syed Nasir Shah, DG Rangers Major General Mohammad Saeed, IG Police AD Khowaja, Principal Secretary to CM Sohail Rajput, Secretary Home Qazi Shahid Parvez, Additional IGs Karachi, CTD and Special Branch, Secretaries of different department, MC KMC and others. Published in Daily Times, March 10th 2018.