CM opens Baba Farid’s shrine renovation

LAHORE/PAKPATTAN : Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi laid the foundation stone of the upgradation of Hazrat Baba Fariduddin Masood Ganj Shakar’s shrine.

The CM was given a detailed briefing on the project. During the briefing, it was told that the entrance of the shrine of Hazrat Baba Fariduddin Ganj Shakar will be developed with beautiful arches.

Langarkhana, library, auditorium and inn will also be built in Mazar Baba Farid. New security, CCTV, air conditioning systems will be installed in the Mazar Baba Fariduddin Ganj Shakar complex. The sewage system of the shrine of Baba Fariduddin Ganj Shakar complex will be improved. Two lifts will also be installed in the shrine of Baba Fariduddin Ganj Shakar complex for the convenience of visiting.

The Chief Minister also spoke to the media and said that Baba Fariduddin Ganj Shakar complex will cost Rs 631 million. “The C&W Department is working on the project. 

The safe city projects of Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Gujranwala have been completed and in 18 more cities they will start in four to five days, Naqvi said, adding that we have done what we could. The university in Pakpattan will established after the formation of the next government. The issue of shortage of medicines in hospitals will be reviewed. All shrines will be upgraded under a phased program.”

Chairman Planning and Development Board, Secretaries C&W, Auqaf, Inspector General Police, Deputy Commissioner, DPO Vand other officials were also present on this occasion.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi arrived at Sahiwal. He approved the Safe City Project for Sahiwal under which CCTV cameras will be installed in the city to maintain law and order. Addressing a press conference, the Chief Minister said that the provincial government was fully focused on solving the problems of the people and completed major projects costing billions of rupees across the province.

He said that the provincial government has completed various development works in Sahiwal division with a huge sum of Rs 15 billion, including Okara Old GT Road, Sahiwal Sea Road, Sahiwal Pakpatan Road, Sahiwal Bypass Overhead Bridge, Dipalpur Haveli Lakha Road.

Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that the latest MRI machine has been imported from Japan for Rs 72 crore.

He said that with the installation of the machine, modern health facilities will be available at the local level. He said that with the completion of the surgical tower under construction since 2014, the treatment requirements of the next 15 years will be met, while the people suffering from heart diseases in Sahiwal will be treated.

The work at the Institute of Cardiology is going on rapidly to provide the facilities which will be completed in the next 3 months.

Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi also inspected the modern operation theatres, Visited the patients under treatment, and asked about the provision of free medicines. Later he also inaugurated the Sahiwal Bai Overhead Bridge.

Secretary C&W Sohail Ashraf gave a detailed briefing on the project ensuring its completion in four months. He said that the completion of the project would make it easier to solve the traffic problems.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that sports is a source of uniting and unifying the nation. Private and public sector should work for the development of sports. He said this while addressing the cash award ceremony organised by Youth Affairs Department Punjab at Alhamra Complex, Shahra-e-Quaid-e-Azam on Saturday.

Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi's was the chief guest at the prize distribution ceremony. He distributed cash prizes to the players who got prominent positions.

Addressing the ceremony, Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi congratulated all those who have received the cash awards. He said Sports adviser Wahab Riaz has worked hard for the promotion of sports. “Wahab Riaz is very fond of sports and is trying to promote sports all the time. Wahab Riaz should have similar attachment in cricket so that he can be more successful there”.

He said Punjab's 6th position in National Games is very disappointing despite all the resources being provided, Punjab. “Hopefully in the next National Games, positive results will be achieved”.

CM said Wahab Riaz, Secretary Raja Jahangir and DG Sports Punjab and their team have prepared a sports calendar for the next three years, which will bring many achievements.

Cash prizes of around Rs 3 crore 90 lakh were distributed among 480 male and female athletes who achieved top positions in different national and international sports competitions in recent past.

Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Sports and youth affairs Wahab Riaz, Provincial Ministers Amir Mir, SM Tanveer, Bilal Asghar, Mansoor Qadir, Azfar Nasir, Advisor Kunwar Dilshad Punjab chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zqaman, CCPO Lahore Bilal Siddique Kamyana, Secretary Sports Punjab Raja Jahangir Anwar, Director General Sports Punjab Dr. Asif Tufail and several other dignitaries were also present at the mega event.

Wahab Riaz, Secretary Sports Punjab Raja Jahangir Anwar and Director General Sports Punjab Dr. Asif Tufail also distributed cash prizes and motorbikes in the grand ceremony which was attended by hundreds of leading male and female athletes of the province.

Leading position holders of 34th Quetta National Games, Pink Games, Asian Athletics Championship 2023, Rising Punjab Games, Ramzan Sports Series, Junior Asia Cup Hockey Oman, World Snooker and Chess Championship were awarded cash prizes at the mega ceremony.

Cash prizes of 48 lakh rupees were given to 20 players for outstanding performance in the Ramazan sports series. Cash prizes of Rs 1 crore 23 lakh 50 thousand were given to 176 players who got prominent position in Rising Punjab Games. Rs 1 crore 1 lakh cash prizes were given to 122 athletes who performed prominently in the 34th National Games.

132 women athletes who performed prominently in Pink Games 2023 were given Rs 50 lakh cash prizes. A collective prize of 36 lakh rupees was given to the silver medal winning team in the Junior Asian Hockey Tournament.

Javelin thrower M Yasir who won bronze medal was given Rs 1,000,000. A total of Rs 4.8 million were awarded to hockey players in the shape of Rs 20,000 per month stipend for a year.

Para-athlete Haider Ali, who won a gold medal in the Paralympic Games, was also awarded a cash prize of Rs 20 lakh. As many as 150 Tehsil sports officers were given motorbikes and cash prizes were also given to 11 Tehsil Sports Officers who have shown the best performance in Sports Clubs Registration.

Wahab Riaz presented an in-depth overview of Punjab Sports department’s performance, major events and achievements during the last one year period.

Wahab Riaz said the Directorate General Sports & Youth Affairs Punjab implemented a sports calendar to streamline the sporting activities in Punjab. Over the last 8 to 10 months, various calendar activities took place across Punjab, including the U-16 Talent Hunt Programme, Rising Punjab Games, Pink Games, and Ramzan ul Mubarak Sports Series.

He said that the top performing athletes in various national and international sports competitions are our true heroes and they deserved to be honoured fully.

Wahab Riaz further said that Sports Board Punjab has taken several unique measures for the true promotion of sports culture which have never been taken in the past. “We have completed a perfect Annual Sports Calendar besides initiating sports club registration campaign in all parts of the province. “Sports clubs have been registered for the first time in the history of Punjab,” he added.

He said that the TSOs have showed best performance in registration of sports clubs. “All possible measures are being taken for the development of sports culture in all parts of the province”.

Following TSOs were given cash award of Rs 50,000 each: Shabina Hamid TSO Faisalabad, Saeed Ahmed TSO Rawalpindi, Adnan Saleem TSO Sialkot, M Asim Bhatti TSO Bahawalpur, M Umair TSO Rahim Yar Khan, M Rehmat Ullah Sial TSO DG Khan, Saima Manzoor TSO Sargodha, Maqbool Ahmad TSO Nankana Sahib, Malik Tassawar Hussain TSO Jaranwala and Farman Kausar TSO Gujranwala.