Boxer Amir arrives to further his projects

KARACHI: Former two-time world champion Amir Khan landed in Islamabad on Friday to move ahead with his projects in the country.

Amir attended a programme hosted by Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) at the Liaquat Gymnasium to pay tribute to the kids of the Army Public School (APS) of Peshawar who were killed in an attack on December 16 last year.

Federal minister for inter-provincial coordination (IPC) Riaz Hussain Pirzada was also present on the occasion.

Amir said that the APS tragedy was a gruesome act and that he felt the pain of the parents of the martyred children.

He said that he wanted to serve Pakistan’s boxing. “My academy is almost ready,” he said.

Amir signed an MoU with the PSB last year for opening a boxing academy inside the premises of the Pakistan Sports Complex in the federal capital.

The PSB’s executive committee has approved this academy. The PSB has also handed over the newly-built boxing hall to Amir. The hall is located between the Rhodam Hall and the baseball ground.

Amir said that from next year his brother Haroon Khan would also visit Pakistan and train in the academy.

PSB Director General Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera told this correspondent on Friday that the Board would provide accommodation to the boxers who would train in Amir’s academy.

However, he said that Amir would meet the food expenses of the boxers.

He said the academy would be working to prepare boxers at the grassroots level. He said Amir would be responsible for technical support to the academy.

Amir is also opening an academy and a trust in Karachi. He had visited the port city in August this year to work on his projects.

Amir has already established an academy in Lahore.

He is expected to visit Karachi on December 20 to witness the finals of the All Pakistan Amir Khan Boxing tournament here at the People’s Sports Complex on December 21.