Latvia signs MoU with Punjab Government to promote sports in the province

Lahore: European country Latvia has inked a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Punjab to collaborate in promotion of sports culture in this region.

The MoU has been reached keeping in view the marvelous success of Punjab Youth Festival 2014.

A ceremony in this regard was held today at National Hockey Stadium Lahore in which Head of the Latvian Regional Policy Department Rodolf Bremens and Director General Sports Punjab Usman Anwar signed the MoU.

Punjab Sports Minister Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan was the chief guest on the occasion. The ceremony was attended by Latvian Ambassador in Pakistan Egorza Poking besides renowned Test Cricketer Muhammad Hafeez, former Captain of Pakistan Cricket Team Salman Butt, Film Director Syed Noor, playback singer Waris Baig and others. Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan while addressing to the ceremony said that a soft image of Pakistan has been shown to the world through Punjab Youth Festival.

He marvelous success of this biggest sports event of the world under the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and the Chairman Steering Committee PSB Hamza Shahbaz Sharif has opened the doors of opportunities for Pakistani youth, he added.

The Minister expressed the hope that more and more technical cooperation with Latvia in athletics, football, basketball and hockey will help promote sports culture in Pakistan. He hoped that the national cricket teams from the country having Test cricket status will also visit Pakistan in near future.

Head of the Latvian Regional Policy Department Rodolf Bremens reciprocating the feelings of Punjab Sports Minister hoped that the youngsters of both Latvia and Pakistan will benefit from each others’ experiences in different games through this MoU, which will help bring the people of both the countries more close.

He appreciated the matchless success of Punjab Youth Festival in which 28 new world records have been made in different events. A documentary regarding Punjab Youth Festival 2014 was also shown on this occasion which was greatly appreciated by the Latvian guests.