Encouraging sports activities: ‘Why are our playgrounds deserted?’

UAF vice chancellor says they are trying their best to promote sports activities on campus

FAISALABAD: “It is a shame that most students can be seen glued to their computers, TV and cell phones than in sports grounds,” University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Iqrar Ahmad Khan said at an intra-varsity sports gala on Wednesday. “Our playgrounds are usually deserted.”

He urged the students at the sports gala to engage in healthy activities. “We have observed a decline in interest in sports among our students and are doing our best to correct that.”

The intra-varsity sports gala was organised by Centre for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security; the Directorate of Sports; and the hall warden.

Khan said the UAF would not allow changing lifestyles and attitudes to hinder students’ access to sports facilities on campus. “There is much one can learn on a sports field.”

The vice chancellor said they were considering introducing courses with credit hours on sports. He announced that the UAF was going to establish a state-of-the-art sports arena for women on the campus.

MPA Najma Afzal, one of the prominent guests at the gala, said students were the future of the country. She stressed the need for students to prepare themselves to meet the challenges of life. “You need to develop sportsman spirit and social skills that can be developed through team sports.”

The provincial government wanted to see Punjab’s playgrounds full of young men and women engaged in various sports activities, she said.

Sports Board chairman Muhammad Ashfaq said physical fitness led to developing sharp minds.

He said sports activities were extremely important for the students as they required physical exercise to stay mentally fit.

Dr Talib Sahi, an instructor, said this was one of the reasons the UAF had introduced regular sports tournaments and galas.

Dr Ashfaq Wahid, an instructor, said that several players of national and international renown had graduated from the UAF.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 28^th,  2016.