Punjab Sports Board will hold two big sports events in September and October

Lahore : Provincial Minister for Sports & Youth Affairs, Jahangir Khanzada has said that Punjab Sports & Youth Affairs Department will hold two big sports events including Punjab Games and Chief Minister Talent Hunt Program in September and October during current year in which best players of 24 national and international sports from all districts of the Punjab will participate.

He expressed these views while presiding over a meeting in connection with preparations for holding Punjab Games at Sports Board Punjab.

Secretary Sports & Youth Affairs Punjab Nayyar Iqbal, Director General Zulfiqar Ghuman, Assistant Director Zaheer Ahmed, Chairman Punjab Olympics Sheikh Rohail Asghar, Secretary General Idrees Haider Khawaja, Sports Officers of all districts and Divisional Secretaries of Punjab Olympics were present on the occasion.

He said that Punjab Games will be arranged with the collaboration of Pakistan Olympics while Talent Hunt Program will be supported by Punjab government itself. Promotion of sports at provincial level will prove to be useful in larger interests of the country, he added.

He said that encouragement of positive activities among youth will result in minimizing trend of terrorism and raising image of Pakistan at international level.

The Minister informed the participants that sports were arranged in 2011 with the collaboration of Pakistan Olympics in Punjab and due to special interest of senior leadership of the province, Sports Department is again starting Punjab Games which can be made successful only with the participation of all stakeholders.

Secretary General Punjab Olympics thanked the Minister and gave briefing to the participants on behalf of association regarding preparations of the event.

IdreesHaider told the participants that district officers of Sports Department will select best players through camping in their respective districts while Olympics Association, during competitions at provincial level, will make arrangements for boarding and lodging of players.

Secretary Sports Nayyar Iqbal directed all district officers to submit the estimates of expenses of uniforms of players, camping and other expenditure in documentary shape within two days in the office of DG Sports in order to hold the event in time.

DG Sports Zulfiqar Ghuman informed the meeting that Punjab Sports Board will be responsible for provision of infrastructure during Punjab Games competitions. He said that committees will be constituted for selection of players at district level on merit.

The Minister directed Divisional Secretaries of Punjab Sports Association to identify registered sports bodies in different districts and get them registered in district offices of Sports Department within three days for holding Punjab Games in a safe environment.

He directed district officers to remain in contact with office-bearers of Olympics Association and select best players without any discrimination for best future of sports in Punjab.