Promotion of healthy activities vital to making hospitals deserted: minister

LAHORE : Provincial Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar has said that the promotion of sports and healthy activities has great significance for making hospitals deserted. He expressed these views while talking to the media at the sports gala function of a private school at the Punjab Stadium on Saturday.

Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that extracurricular activities are equally important for durable development. "Punjab Government is promoting healthy activities under the leadership of Chief Minister Punjab Nawaz Sharif," he added.

He further said that Khelta Punjab Games are being organized in accordance with the vision of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz. "More than one lakh twenty thousand players have been registered in Punjab so far for the grand event".

He said that it's for the first time in the history of the country, that club level competitions have been organised in the province. “More than fifteen thousand clubs have registered in Punjab. Sports Endowment Fund has been established for the welfare of the players.”

He said sports played an important role in attracting the people to a positive, healthy and disciplined life. “Khelta Punjab Games will unearth new talent which will highlight the country's name at global events. Sports cannot be promoted at grass route level without providing necessary facilities”.

Cash prizes distributed

DG Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Khizar Afzaal Chaudhry has distributed cash prizes worth Rs 4460,000 to the winning players of Inter-District phase of Khelta Punjab Games at a prize distribution ceremony held at the SBP E-library on Saturday.

Director Admin M Kaleem, Director Sports Rana Nadeem Anjum, Deputy Director Chand Parveen, Shaista Qaiser and other officials were also present on this occasion.

Khizar Afzaal Chaudhry congratulated all the players who performed well in the second phase of this mega event. A documentary of Khelta Punjab Games competitions was also shown in the event.

While addressing the ceremony, Khizar Afzaal Chaudhry said that fresh talented players are emerging from the platform of Khelta Punjab Games. “These budding athletes will prove to be true asset of the country”.

He informed that the final stage of the Khelta Punjab Games will kick off with a colorful opening ceremony on January 30. “The third and final phase Inter-Division competitions Khelta Punjab Games will continue till February 3,” he added.