Pakistan’s Lyari defies Bollywood’s gangland label to rise as boxing haven

Lyari, Karachi's oldest neighbourhood long stigmatised by its portrayal as a gangland in Bollywood films, has emerged as an unlikely boxing hub in Pakistan. At the centre of this transformation is 60-year-old boxing coach Younus Qambrani, who runs a boxing club where he trains girls to compete and defy social stereotypes. The feature, published on 5 June 2026 by Al Jazeera, highlights how Qambrani has documented his work through an extensive archive of videos and photos shared from the community.