‘Khailta Punjab’ programme’ to bring about change in province

LAHORE:Chief Minister's 'Khailta Punjab' programme is set to revolutionise sports in the province with the construction of new complexes and state-of-the-art facilities. This initiative aims to promote a vibrant sports culture and develop young talent across Punjab.

Pervez Iqbal, DG Youth Affairs and Sports Punjab, presided over an important meeting at the National Hockey Stadium on Thursday. The meeting focused on several key agendas, including the progress of Summer Camps in all divisions and the Talent Hunt Drive. Key attendees included Rana Nadeem Anjum - Director Youth Affairs, Qaiser Raza - Project Director PMU, M Kaleem - Director Admin, Yasmeen Akhter - Director Sports, All divisional and district sports officers.

Pervez Iqbal emphasised the ongoing Summer Camps in all divisions of the province. He urged sports officers to actively involve more children in these healthy activities, aligning with Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s vision to foster a strong sports culture among the youth.

“The 'Khailta Punjab' programme, under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, is poised to create a dynamic sports environment in Punjab. With new sports facilities, summer camps, and transparent selection processes, the initiative aims to nurture young talent and elevate the province's sports standards,” stressed the DG.

Chairing another meeting, Pervez Iqbal announced that open trials will be conducted in all divisions to select Punjab teams for the 35th National Games in Karachi. He stressed that the selection process will be merit-based and transparent, with no room for negligence. Different selection committees will be formed to ensure fair trials across the province.

Selected players for the National Games will receive scholarships from the Sports Endowment Fund. Additionally, the Sports Board Punjab will organise training camps for top-level athletes, supervised by qualified coaches and trainers.