The morning of 25th December saw the metropolis gather at the Urban Forest, Clifton to run for a cleaner and greener city with the Karachi Green Marathon.
The city’s first environmental awareness initiative by Momina & Duraid Foundation in collaboration with the Karachi Municipal Corporation, the Karachi Green Marathon brought Karachiites out in large numbers to participate in the 5 kilometers and 10 kilometers categories of the race.
Aimed at promoting a clean and green city and healthy lifestyle, the Karachi Green Marathon is a valiant effort in portraying a positive image of the city by mobilizing the citizens to make Karachi a cleaner, healthier and greener place to live.
With the Karachi Green Marathon, the city not only witnessed a revival of sports activities but also the first of its kind plantation drive where each runner planted a tree for a healthier and greener Karachi.
The kickoff of the Karachi Green Marathon turned into an exciting environmental awareness event for the citizens of Karachi. The Karachi Green Marathon had the Administrator of Karachi, MurtazaWahab, along with President HUM Network Sultana Siddiqui, CEO HUM Network Duraid Qureshi, Chairperson Special Olympics Ronak Lakhani, OwaisMangalwala, SohailSardar, Afia Salam, JuvairiaAbbasi, Shahwar Ali Khan, and students from several schools in attendance.
Ali Sohailwas declared the winner in the 10 kilometerscategory for males at the Karachi Green Marathon, whereas Akhtar Ali, M. Sajad, Ikram, and Waqas secured the second, third, fourth, and fifth position in the same. On the other hand, Farah Mehwish took the first position in the 10 kilometers category for females at the Karachi Green Marathon, while RabiaAashiq, Sehrish, Nimra, and Sarah Muneer took the subsequent positions respectively. IsrarKhattak secured the winner position in the 5 kilometers category for males. Rabia took the winner title, whereas Erum, Maria, Iqra, and Maria took the consecutive positions in the 5 kilometers categoryfor females at the Karachi Green Marathon. The top five contestants in both male and female 10 kilometers category of the marathon were awardedcash prizes of PKR 75,000/-, PKR 50,000/-, PKR 35,000/-, PKR 20,000/-, and PKR 10,000/- respectively. Conversely, the top five contestants in both male and female 5 kilometers category of the marathon were rewarded with PKR 50,000/-, PKR 35,000/-, PKR 20,000/-, PKR 10,000/-, and PKR 5,000/- respectively.
Speaking on the occasion, ZerlinaDuraid, the force behind the Karachi Green Marathon, commented, “We really think this initiative can be the start of many more to come. Every single participant is making a difference in this run and together we are working towards a clean and green Karachi. This is the start for a healthy Karachi.”
“This Green Marathon will further communicate Karachi’s identity while positively benefitting the environment. It’s inspiring to see that this event is bringing us together as a community, all for a good cause”, said Mishal Junaid, the initiator of the Karachi Green Marathon.
The Karachi Green Marathon initiative by the Momina&Duraid Foundation and KMC aims to create awareness and to motivate the general public of the metropolitan at an individual and community level to keep the city clean and green, and to practice a healthy lifestyle.
