Speaking in an interview with former Pakistan cricketer Fawad Alam, Afridi discussed a wide range of topics, including Karachi’s infrastructure, his early cricketing days, the 2010 spot-fixing controversy, criticism surrounding Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi’s captaincy and his advice to young cricketers.

Afridi Shares His Concerns About Karachi

Afridi began by praising the people of Karachi but explained that moving to Islamabad became necessary for a better quality of life.

Reflecting on his visits back to his hometown, the former captain said he feels disappointed to see roads and infrastructure still in poor condition despite years of development work.

He also questioned why Karachi continues to face infrastructure problems despite significant investment in construction and property development.

According to Afridi, Karachi has tremendous potential, but much more needs to be done to improve the city’s infrastructure and living conditions.

Praises Shahrah-e-Bhutto Expressway

While criticizing the overall condition of Karachi’s infrastructure, Afridi acknowledged that some projects have brought positive changes.

He specifically mentioned the Shahrah-e-Bhutto Expressway, saying it was an example of useful development in the city. However, he stressed that one or two major projects are not enough to meet the needs of a city as large as Karachi.

Afridi also highlighted Islamabad’s infrastructure and location as major reasons behind his decision to relocate. He said the city’s connectivity to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Lahore through the motorway makes travelling more convenient.

Karachi Played a Major Role in Afridi’s Cricket Journey

Despite his criticism of the city’s infrastructure, Afridi spoke fondly about the Karachi where he grew up and began his cricket journey.

He recalled how passionate the city was about cricket, saying children in his neighbourhood would play the sport throughout the day. He also remembered looking up to cricketing heroes such as Imran Khan.

Afridi revealed that he initially started as a fast bowler before eventually switching to spin. He also trained under former cricketer Mohsin Rasheed during his early years.

According to Afridi, Karachi’s club cricket scene was highly competitive, with large crowds attending matches and even established first-class players taking part.

He described earning a place in a Karachi cricket club as a significant achievement and said the city’s cricket culture played a major role in making the sport an important part of his life.

Afridi Reflects on 2010 Spot-Fixing Scandal

The former Pakistan captain also revisited the 2010 spot-fixing scandal, describing it as one of the most difficult periods of his career.

The controversy involved three Pakistan players who were later found guilty of deliberately bowling no-balls during a Test match in England.

Afridi said he had concerns at the time and had attempted to protect younger players from certain individuals, but felt that his warnings were not acted upon by team management.

The revelations, he said, came as a major shock because he had not imagined that players within the national team could become involved in such actions.

Looking back, Afridi said he now prefers to leave the controversy in the past.

Afridi Defends His Views on Babar Azam

Afridi also addressed the perception that he has been overly critical of former Pakistan captain Babar Azam.

He said some of his comments have been misunderstood on social media and stressed that criticism should not automatically be interpreted as opposition.

Afridi praised Babar as one of Pakistan’s most consistent players and said he considers him among the best players he has seen in the country.

However, he emphasized that even great players need to continue developing throughout their careers. He compared Babar’s journey with that of India’s Virat Kohli, pointing out that Kohli also developed gradually before reaching the highest level.

Afridi said he has consistently praised Babar, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan, while also believing that their individual performances should ultimately contribute to Pakistan winning more matches.

Advice to Shaheen Shah Afridi on Captaincy

Speaking about his son-in-law, Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, the former captain revealed that he had advised him to think carefully before accepting the national captaincy.

Afridi said captaincy comes with enormous pressure because the leader is often held responsible when the team does not perform.

He explained that a captain has to manage personal performance, team results and media expectations simultaneously.

Although Afridi tried to discourage Shaheen from taking on the responsibility, he acknowledged that leading Pakistan is a dream for many cricketers and there is nothing wrong with wanting the role.

He also emphasized the importance of giving a captain the authority needed to make decisions effectively.

Afridi’s Message to Young Cricketers

Afridi concluded with advice for aspiring cricketers, urging them to dream big, work hard and remain disciplined.

He encouraged young players to aim for representing Pakistan rather than settling for limited ambitions, while emphasizing that there are no shortcuts to success.

He also warned young cricketers about spending too much time on social media, saying that the pressure and criticism associated with online platforms can negatively affect players during difficult periods.

His message was simple: focus on cricket first, stay disciplined and let your performance speak for itself.

For Afridi, Karachi may have shaped his cricketing journey, but his latest comments show that his connection with the city remains deeply personal—even as he continues to question whether its infrastructure has kept pace with its enormous potential.

Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab recently visited Orangi Town to inaugurate a new operational base of the Sindh Integrated Emergency and Health Services (SIEHS), the organization behind the province’s Rescue 1122 ambulance network.

The emergency base has been shifted from Kati Pahari to a government-owned building near Banaras, with the aim of improving response times in Orangi Town and other densely populated areas.

So far, so good.

But then came the moment that got social media talking: the mayor hopped onto a bicycle ambulance.

And yes, it looks exactly like what you’re imagining.

Wait… Is That Actually an Ambulance?

Before anyone starts imagining a patient being rushed to the hospital on the back of a bicycle, there’s an important detail: bicycle ambulances are not new.

Rescue 1122 introduced Karachi’s bicycle ambulance service back in May 2025.

The idea is actually fairly practical. Karachi has plenty of neighborhoods where roads are so narrow, crowded or blocked by traffic that a conventional ambulance can spend precious minutes simply trying to reach the patient.

A bicycle, on the other hand, can squeeze through places where a full-sized ambulance would basically need a miracle—and perhaps a police escort.

SIEHS has also displayed mountain-bike ambulances as part of its emergency fleet and introduced female rapid-response bicycle teams during 2025.

But Why Is Everyone Making Fun of It?

The internet, being the internet, naturally had questions.

For many people, the bicycle’s extremely basic appearance made the initiative look less like an emergency innovation and more like “Karachi traffic finally defeated the ambulance.”

The sight of the mayor personally riding the pedal-powered vehicle also gave social media plenty of material.

Critics questioned whether a bicycle ambulance should be presented as a major technological achievement when Karachi continues to struggle with bigger issues involving healthcare, transportation and emergency infrastructure.

And let’s be honest: if your city has potholes large enough to qualify as swimming pools, the phrase “advanced emergency transport” is going to invite a few jokes.

Okay, But Does the Bicycle Actually Make Sense?

Surprisingly, yes.

A bicycle ambulance obviously isn’t going to replace a conventional ambulance. It can’t transport a patient to the hospital, carry extensive life-support equipment or provide the space and protection of a proper road ambulance.

Nobody is going to be loading a patient onto it and shouting, “Chalo bhai, hospital!”

That’s not the point.

The bicycle is designed for first response.

In crowded markets, narrow streets and heavily congested neighborhoods, a trained responder on a bicycle may be able to reach a patient several minutes before a larger ambulance.

Those few minutes can matter.

A responder can assess the situation, provide first aid and begin stabilizing the patient while a conventional ambulance makes its way through Karachi’s legendary traffic.

So, Is It a Joke or Actually Useful?

Perhaps a little bit of both.

The bicycle ambulance may look funny—and watching a mayor inaugurate an emergency service by riding one certainly makes for a memorable headline.

But underneath the memes is a fairly simple idea: sometimes the fastest emergency vehicle isn’t the biggest one.

The real question isn’t whether a bicycle looks impressive. It’s whether it can help emergency responders reach people faster.

In a city where traffic can turn a 10-minute journey into a small documentary series, maybe the humble bicycle deserves a chance.

Just don’t expect it to start competing with Formula 1 anytime soon.

From IBA Graduate to Successful Entrepreneur

Mir Raza Ali was widely known as a young entrepreneur who transformed a simple waffle cart into one of Karachi’s recognized dessert brands. A graduate of the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi, he launched Wafflix with a classmate and steadily expanded the business through determination and hard work.

His entrepreneurial journey inspired many young Pakistanis, making him a symbol of ambition and innovation in the country’s growing startup ecosystem.

How Did Mir Raza Ali Go Missing?

According to police, Mir Raza Ali left his home in PECHS Block 2 during the early hours of July 28, 2026, telling his family that he would return within ten minutes.

Security camera footage later captured him getting into a white vehicle outside his residence, leading many to initially believe he had been abducted.

Two days later, his body was discovered in bushes near Shahi Qila in Gulistan-e-Jauhar, opposite the University of Karachi. Authorities confirmed he had suffered a gunshot wound to the chest.

Investigation Takes an Unexpected Turn

As investigators reconstructed his final movements, the case took an unexpected direction.

According to officials familiar with the investigation, Mir Raza Ali had recently been dealing with significant financial difficulties. Police say he had reportedly suffered investment losses worth millions of rupees and was under pressure to repay investors.

Investigators also learned that he had requested a loan of Rs30 million from one investor, but the request was declined. The same investor reportedly told police that Mir had mentioned experiencing “weird thoughts” before his disappearance.

Police Trace His Final Hours

Investigators believe Mir returned to his office after arriving home from work, where he allegedly collected a pistol before returning home again.

Police say he left behind the keys to his house and car, his wristwatch, and some cash for his mother. Investigators also determined that all data on his iPhone had been deleted before he disappeared.

According to the statement of an online ride-hailing driver, Mir hired a cab, requested his favorite song during the journey, and paid the driver more than the required fare.

CCTV footage from Gulistan-e-Jauhar later showed him walking alone after being dropped off. Investigators say no one else was seen accompanying him.

Missing Pistol Raises Questions

Police later recovered Mir’s mobile phone after tracing a person who had allegedly found it and inserted a SIM card into the device.

Investigators also recovered the holster for his pistol hanging from a tree near the location where his body was found. However, the firearm itself has not yet been recovered.

Officials believe it is possible that someone passing through the area may have taken both the phone and the weapon.

Why Police Are Not Ruling Anything Out

Although several pieces of evidence have led investigators to consider the possibility of suicide, police say the case is far from closed.

According to investigators, three major questions remain unanswered:

• Why did Mir travel to that specific location in Gulistan-e-Jauhar?
• Where is the missing pistol?
• Why was no gunshot residue detected on his hands, despite medical experts confirming that the bullet was fired from close range?

Officials noted that because the body had partially decomposed before being discovered, it is possible that any gunshot residue had deteriorated over time.

Investigation Still Underway

Police say they are continuing to analyze CCTV footage, review Mir Raza Ali’s call records, and interview family members, friends, business associates, and other individuals connected to the case.

Authorities remain hopeful that the investigation will provide clearer answers in the coming days.

For now, the circumstances surrounding the death of the young entrepreneur remain under investigation, and officials have not reached a final conclusion regarding the cause of his death.

There was an open manhole near the store and the family’s vehicle was parked there. Little Ibrahim, like every other kid started running towards the vehicle straight from the exit without the supervision of any adult and suddenly fell into the manhole that had no covering. Devastated, the father started calling every emergency number he knew while the mother frantically called for help nearby.

The lack of machinery led to the parents to pay for the equipment and get the help required to get their toddler out of the manhole. Hours and hours passed by but no result came. No one knew had the blueprint for the underground system so finding the boy was a needle in a haystack.

After 14-15 hours, the boy’s body was discovered by a scavenger who knew about the whereabouts of the manhole. Of course after this gruesome time, the toddler did not survive and his body was handed over to the officials for further investigation,

The child’s heartbreaking death — and the apparent lack of urgent response from civic authorities — sparked intense anger among family members and local residents. They staged protests on University Road late Sunday night and again the following day.

Several political parties had joined in, holding demonstrations against the provincial administration and calling for the Karachi mayor’s resignation. Petitions were also submitted in court, demanding accountability from city officials.

Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab later visited the grieving family of the three-year-old boy who fell into an open manhole in Gulshan-i-Iqbal and drowned. He assured them that a transparent investigation would be carried out and that strict action would be taken against those responsible.

Will the mayor and other government officials work hard enough to restore the geographical conditions in the city or will there be more incidents happen to shake up the people of Karachi, we will soon find out.