Women being provided opportunities for progress

LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that women are being provided maximum opportunities for excelling in their respective fields.

He said this while talking to media at the inaugural ceremony of 7th National Mass Wrestling Championship at NPSC Gymnasium Hall on Sunday. Faisal Khokhar and the Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan Ulanbek Totuiaev inaugurated the championship by playing mass wrestling while DC Lahore Rafia Haider declared the event open in which more than 300 athletes including 100 female players from across the country are participating. Talking to the media, Faisal Khokhar paid tribute to the Deputy Commissioner Lahore for organising Mass Wrestling Championship. “It is nice to see a large number of women are participating in the event which is a welcome sign,” he added. He said that it is a good omen that more than 100 women are participating in the mass wrestling event. “Thanks to the country's first female Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, now women are feeling great honour and respect while performing their duties at prominent positions in different departments,” he added.

He said that the participation of women in maximum events is also helping a lot in presenting Pakistan's soft image across the world and removing the misconception that women are being neglected in our country. Khokhar said that effective efforts will be made to introduce Punjab’s traditional and cultural games not only in other provinces of the country but the whole world. “Under a plan, Punjab govt will try to introduce our traditional sports particularly Kabaddi in Kyrgyzstan". The minister said that a mega sports plan is being introduced for the revival of sports in the Punjab province. "This is a promise from the Punjab government that a handsome amount will be spent on the players. We will provide modern facilities to the players so that they can participate in international sports competitions. Sports is a significant part of our life, it needs to be given its due importance”.

Deputy Commissioner Rafia Haider on this occasion said that teams from all over the country including hundreds of women are participating in the mass wrestling event. “Our women have great sports talent and they have demonstrated their potential on a number of occasions in the past.