Karachi: Minister for Inter-provincial Coordination (IPC) Riaz Hussain Pirzada said that hosting of the Jubilee Insurance world 6-Reds and team snooker championship in Karachi has signalled that peace was returning to the metropolis.
“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of the Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif are determined to eradicate the menace of Taliban and terrorism from the city and the country,” he told spectators at the inauguration of the mega event at the venue on Thursday evening.
He said the baize game was loved and played by father of the nation Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
The minister said the game has made tremendous progress in the country during the last two decades. There are many clubs and snooker parlours across the country that produces champions, he added.
Riaz Pirzada welcomed the foreign teams and hoped that they will enjoy their stay in the city.
He also applauded the efforts of Alamgir Shaikh, his team, sponsors and media for playing an effective role in making the event a success.
Speaking on the occasion, IBSF vice president Maxime Cassis said he has travelled many countries in connection with the game during the last quarter-of-a-century but this event was ‘unique’.
He paid rich tributes to the PBSF chief for his hard work and making the event a reality.
Alamgir Shaikh, managing director of Jubilee Insurance Tahir Ahmed and Munawwar Shaikh also spoke on the occasion.
Later, the minister cut the ribbon to formally inaugurate the spectacle. The minister also played a shot on the table.
At the outset, all the teams walked past the dais in alphabetical order namely Afghanistan, Australia, Bahrain, China, Egypt, England, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Latvia, Malaysia, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Turkey, UAE and the hosts Pakistan.
