Lahorites to show generosity during the Fund-Raising T20 cricket match

Lahore: Punjab Minister for Law and Sports Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan has said that Lahorites will show remarkable generosity during the fourth IDPs Fund-Raising T20 cricket match on July 26 (today).

Addressing a press conference here at the National Hockey Stadium to brief the media about the T20 Fund-Raising cricket match being played between National cricket team and Pakistan ‘A’, he said that the inhabitants of Lahore were known for their kind heartedness and liveliness and they will demonstrate their quality in this testing time for the IDPs. MPAs Tahia Noon, Mehwish Sultana and Director General Sports Board Punjab (SBP) Usman Anwar were also present on this occasion.

Rana Mashhood told that all the top cricketers of the country will be in action in the last fund-raising match at Gaddafi Stadium. He thanked Pakistan Cricket Board for its great cooperation during this fund-raising rubber. “All the political leadership of Punjab and district administrations really deserved full marks for their role in the highly successful fund-raising campaign,” he added.

The Minister said that the IDPs have been in precarious condition since the launching of Operation Zarb-e-Azb against terrorists and they deserved full cooperation from the entire nation. “Every segment of the society will have to play a positive role for this noble cause,” he added. “Punjab Govt has taken lead by launching a number of constructive initiatives for the help of our brethren from North Waziristan. The 4-match T20 series was also a part of Chief Minister Punjab’s Fund-Raising campaign,” he explained.

Rana Mashhood further said that the enormous participation masses in the first three fund-raising cricket matches showed that the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) were not alone in this testing time. The minister said that the fund-raising cricket series has so far fulfilled its purpose and around Rs 70 million have been collected in Rawapindi, Multan and Faisalabad. “We got over Rs 25 million in the first match at Rawalpindi, 20 million at Multan and Rs 25 million from Faisalabad fund-raiser for our poor brothers of North Waziristan. It was the best way to raise funds for the hundreds of thousands IDPs,” he elaborated.

To a question, Rana Mashhood said that the Lahore T20 match will likely to give us Rs 80 million for the IDPs of North Waziristan.

Rana Mashhood further told that Punjab government and Sports Board Punjab have always played a constructive role for the welfare of needy people of Pakistan. “We will not leave the IDPs alone in this tough time. We are putting our best efforts for the help and rehabilitation of IDPs by organizing fund-raising cricket series in the major cities of the province,” he described.

Mashhood further informed that several million rupees will be collected from ‘azadi parade’ on August 14 for the IDPs. “This parade will be called as ‘Walk for Cause’ and it will be held in all districts of the province. Every participant will have to buy a ticket of Rs 100 to take part in the walk,” he added.

Replying a question regarding Imran Khan’s participation in fund-raising campaign, the minister invited the former captain in fund-raising campaign saying that the PTI chief will be welcomed if he wants to play a positive role in fund-raising instead of his negative politics.

The minister further said that World Kabaddi League will be staged in October this year. “Around 250 players of 10 countries will feature in the Kabaddi League which will be played for four months in as many countries – Pakistan, India, Canada and England. Lahore and Faisalabad will host kabaddi matches in Pakistan,” he explained.

To a query regarding PYF production’s inclusion in the international sports events, Rana Mashhood said that the Sports Board Punjab (SBP) was ready to give its talented athletes to POA for Commonwealth and Asian Games but the tussle between the two factions deprived the genuine and emerging athletes of an opportunity to exhibit their potential at international level.