Chairman Punjab Text Book Board Ch Nawazish gives Rs 10 million for the IDPs

 Lahore: The rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of North Waziristan has been our top priority and we will not sit idle till the time we get our objective, this commitment was shown by Punjab Minister for Law and Sports Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan at the prize distribution ceremony of 4th IDPs Fund-Raising T20 cricket match at Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday night.

National cricket team beat Pakistan ‘A’ side by 19 runsin the thrilling encounter. It may be recalled here that the T20 fund-raisers were organized under the banner of Sports Board Punjab. A large number of VIP guests includingheirs of martyrs, South African Ambassador, Australian High Commissioner, showbiz personalities, political leaders were present on this occasion. Several Sports stars such as Muhammad Asif (snooker), Aamir Atlas Khan (squash) , Rehan Butt, Kh Junaid (hockey), Madeeha Latif, Saira Shah, Neelum Riaz (women kabaddi) also witness the fund-raising

The souvenirs were presented to heirs of martyrs, South African Ambassador and Audata:text/mce-internal,stralian High Commissioner, squash, snooker and women kabaddi players on this occasion.

Rana Mashhood informed the gathering that Rs 27.5 million have been collected in Lahore fund-raiser. “With the grace of Allah and cooperation of all the sectors, we managed to raise handsome money

for the IDPs so that they can celebrate their Eidul Fitr with dignity,” The minister asked the nation to come forward and celebrate their Eid with the IDPs. “They really deserve all kinds of help and sympathies in this testing time. We can’t forget their great sacrifices that they offered only for the peaceful future of the country,” he elaborated.

Rana Mashhood further said that the mammoth participation masses in the fund-raising cricket matches showed that the IDPs were not alone in this testing time. “The fund-raising cricket series has fulfilled its purpose and we got sufficient money from the four matches. It was more than our expectations,” he elaborated referring to the amount collected from the fund-raisers.

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 difficult time,” he described. Some very touchy scenes were seen during the ceremony when the heirs of martyrs remembered their martyred sons. “Pakistan is everything for us. We have sacrificed our beloved sons for Pakistan and we are also ready to sacrifice everything for our mother land,”

Director General SBP Usman Anwar, in his address said that the entire nation saluted the Pakistan Army for brave Operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan. “The sacrifices of IDPs are also of remarkable significance. We all should respect their spirit and fervor, they are our brothers. We will go to every extent to help them in this testing time,” he said in an emotional tone.

Ch Nawazish of Punjab Text Book Board presented a cheque of Rs 10 million for the IDPs. Cricket bats worth Rs 5 million signed by the renowned cricketers were also auctioned on this occasion.