PM forms body to promote local sports

KARACHI: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has formed a task force for the promotion of indigenous sports in the country.

Mohammad Ijaz Gul has been made chairman of the task force which includes Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF) secretary Mohammad Sarwar, Pakistan Wrestling Federation (PWF) secretary Arshad Sattar, a representative of Tug-of-War Federation and a few others, sources close to the development told ‘The News’ on Tuesday.

The task force held its first meeting on Tuesday at the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC), Cabinet Block, Islamabad, with Ijaz Gul in the chair.

Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Director General Dr Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera was also present at the meeting.

In the three-hour long meeting various matters regarding the promotion of wrestling, tug-of-war, kabaddi and other indigenous sports were discussed.

The task force has also been given an office in the cabinet block.  A source said that the members of the task force would submit their recommendations on how these games could be developed in the country. The federal government would provide special funds to the task force, it was learnt.