Sports festival has saved the youth from extremism: Hamza Shahbaz

Lahore: Member National Assembly Hamza Shahbaz Sharif has said that sports festival has saved the youth from extremism and negative attitudes and created a sense of participation and confidence among them. He said that the journey of development and progress of Pakistan cannot be completed without active role of young generation. He said that sports festival has enhanced the soft image of the country and given the status of safe country for the sports teams all over the world.

He expressed these views while addressing a press conference at National Hockey Stadium on the arrival of National Cricket Team of Qatar today. Provincial Minister for Sports Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, DG Sports, Usman Anwar, Vice Chairman Punjab Tourism Imran Ali Goraya and players of Qatar and Pakistan-A team were also present on the occasion.

Hamza Shahbaz Sharif said that PML-N leadership considers the young generation future of the country who is 60 percent of our total population. He said that making the young generation as a useful citizen is the real investment and Punjab Sports Festival is a step towards this direction. He said that Balochistan government has also started sports festival on the pattern of Punjab for its youth. He said that after a long period, any ICC registered cricket team has arrived Pakistan for the first time due to Punjab Sports Festival.

We welcome Qatar National Cricket Team, he added. Hamza Shahbaz said that the earlier mutual visits of Indian and Pakistani men and women Kabadi teams have proved the importance of sports festival. He said that 40 foreign teams have participated this year in the sports festival and there is a target of setting sixty world records.

Sri Lankan Coach of Qatar Cricket Team thanked Pakistan Cricket Board and Punjab Sports Board over the boarding and lodging of the team and match arrangements in Lahore. He said that Pakistan is a safe country for every kind of sports. Hamza Shahbaz Sharif thanked Sri Lankan government over extending help for elimination of dengue.