Indian journalists delegation visits National Hockey Stadium

Lahore: Punjab Deputy Speaker Rana Mashood and festival organizers accorded warm welcome to the Indian delegation on their visit to the on Saturday to witness the historic Punjab Youth Festival 2012.

When the delegation, which is here in Lahore on five-day tour at the invitation of Lahore Press Club, reached the hockey stadium, Chief organizer Youth Festival Rana Mashood, Director General Sports Board Punjab Usman Anwar, Lahore Press Club President Arshad Ansari, Sports Journalists Association of Lahore (SJAL) President Syed Ali Hashmi, SWAP secretary Amir Raza Khan, treasurer Farrukh Butt, vice president Sohail Ali and the executive body members along with a jam-packed crowd welcome them warmly.

The delegation members appreciated the welcome given to them and said they were not only surprised to see such a huge and enthusiastic crowd and historic event but also termed it the remarkable one. They said they were very happy and excited to witness the event which is not less than the best moment of their lives.

Chief organizer Rana Mashood on the occasion said: “Punjab Youth Festival is an international activity which has involved the youth in healthy activities and they are ready to break various records to prove that there is no dearth of talent in Punjab and Pakistan and we want to show the world that Pakistan is a safe country for holding all kind of international sporting events.”

He said that as many as 40 international teams are participating in the youth festival in which teams of three Indian provinces with their ministers are also taking part. “The participation of more than 40 international teams including Indians is proof of the festival’s success. Around 4.5 million youth is actively participating in the international event which means 4.5 million families are involved in the success of the festival. We also arranged 26,000 jobs for our youth which is actually the asset of our country and I am sure they will bring goof name and fame to the country,” Mashood concluded.

Talking to the reporters, Delhi Press Club Secretary Anil Anand Kumar said: “Records are for breaking and we appreciate the efforts of Punjab youth who is eager to break the records and we wish them good luck for their attempt. It is wrong to say that it is an Indian record but records are made for breaking and help creating challenging atmosphere among the sportsman.”
“I am here in Lahore for the first time and it is very special for me to be here in the historic city and event. I am surprised to see a huge number of youth involved in the healthy activities and I cordially wish them best of luck for their record breaking event,” he added.

Chandigarh Press Club Secretary Khushhaal Laali said that he and his other fellows were enjoying a lot here and feeling that they were not in Pakistan but in India as there was no difference between Indian and Pakistani people and they are almost same.“My heartiest wishes are with the youth who is ready to break various records during the historic event. I surely would like to say that Punjabis are borne for breaking the records,” he said.