Proposal for new International Cricket Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan
( CRICKET AS A MAGNET: Opportunities for mixed use program )
There are many implications of sports in the modern world of today. Sports bring communities together and above all, sports are the major resource of national identity. Sports have a cultural as well as social importance. Many people participated in sports as amateurs, for personal enjoyment, the love of competition or as a healthful form of exercise, sport provide entertainment for people thought out the world. It is the basic nature of human being to compete from others; sports are a stage where they can fulfill their desire to get recognition and fame. But if we consider the current situation of our city, Lahore city is rapidly growing and getting more and more congested. Our citizen’s want that they entertained from the different sports leagues instead they would vexedly away from sports as an entertainment. Because of grim situation of the routes around Nishtar Park Sports Complex, that’s the time to redesign sports complex on such place which has the feasibility for the future 25 to 30 years.
Sports in Pakistan have suffered in the recent past due to the deteriorating security situation in the city. On March 3, 2009, Pakistani cricket suffered a cruel blow when the bus carrying the Sri Lankan Test team was attacked by militants near Lahore's Gaddafi stadium, leaving eight people dead and seven visiting players wounded. That tragic incident, at the height of the homegrown militants' bloody fight against the state, forced the suspension of all international sports in Pakistan. Pakistan has suffered badly from 10 years without hosting international sports. This has caused the facilities a back step and this issue I feel needs to be addressed. On the other hand in the recent past, we have seen that the struggle of bringing back of international sports in Pakistan has opened new opportunities for development within the field.
With the rising problems in the past several years after the attack on Sri-Lankan cricketers, the field of sports in Pakistan needs reconsideration. The issues related to security, vehicular routes and infrastructure must be dealt with to help the field prosper. We have seen that the few events that have taken place have caused chaos within the city. The location, vehicle routes etc. must be analyzed to see the reasons for the chaos and that is what I aim to look at. The connectivity of the Nishtar Park Sports Complex with two entrances, one is on the main Ferozpur road and the second is near Liberty roundabout. These are the two main arteries of the city Lahore that connects the whole city. Whenever any mega final or any international tour are happened in this Sports complex, the security concerns and traffic load creates extremely unsuitable conditions for the citizens. Due to these unsuitable conditions, many patients are disturbed in any emergency case. Because there are several major hospitals on the main Ferozpur road.
Site Selection Criteria:
Based upon studies upon public spaces, case studies and personal observation and experiences, the factors for site selection were listed out to be as follows:
Public place will be a public property:
It should be into the ownership of an organization (govt. or non- govt.) that works for the public benefit and preferably be reserved for public development.
Easily accessible for maximum public:
Include both users from into the city and outside the city.
Easily accessible for International teams & Players:
Not far away from the Airport.
Near to any inter- change of ring road:
Connected with major road.
Comparative analysis of interchanges (ring road) time from Airport & Railway Station:
Inter-changes
Airport Time
Railway Station
Quaid-e-Azam Interchange
14 min
26 min
Harbanspura Interchange
13 min
27 min
Abdullah Gul Interchange
10 min
31 min
Mujarrab Herbal clinic I.C
12 min
39 min
The Log House interchange
21 min
42 min
Guju Matah Interchange
24 min
48 min
Halloki Interchange
32 min
53 min
Lake city Interchange
37 min
57 min
Ada Plot Interchange
40 min
58 min
Tarru Gill Interchange
45 min
1h - 5 min
Mohalwan Interchange
53 min
1h – 8 min
Babu Sabu Interchange
46 min
38 min
Saggian Interchange
33 min
24 min
Azadi Interchange
30 min
13 min
Niazi Interchange
27 min
20 min
Shalimar Garden Interchange
24 min
23 min
