Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to be made a centre for sports

Sports secretary says teams will be made for each Olympic sport


May 26, 2018
Sports secretary says teams will be made for each Olympic sport PHOTO: FILE/APP

ABBOTTABAD: The provincial government has drafted a new sports policy which will help turn the province into a hub for sports.

This was disclosed by Tariq Khan, the provincial sports secretary and recently appointed as the director general of the Galiyat Development Authority (GDA).

“This policy will promote Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) as a centre of sporting activities and will make the province a favoured destination and peaceful place for national and International sporting events,” Tariq told The Express Tribune.

He said that the Sports Department had appointed a task force to design and prepare a draft provincial sports policy based on comprehensive and exclusive consultation with renowned national and international players, consultants, experts, representatives of relevant interest groups and sports associations.

This policy, Tariq said, offers a formal, integrated and organised framework for the growth and promotion of sports at all levels in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

The policy will establish a clear and convenient structure to provide and increase the delivery of sports opportunities in the province through systematic, participative and coordinated approach at every level through government, educational institutes, associations, the private sector and local governing bodies.

Consistent with national and international trends, the policy is inclusive for men, women, youth, the specially-abled and even senior citizens regardless of their religion, caste, colour, gender, education and ethnicity.

Adhering to the growing modernisation and use of technology in sports, the policy accords special focus to this in almost all games played.

Moreover, the policy also pushes to introduce “sports science” as a subject at different educational levels and as a specialized discipline at the university level.

Moreover, schools will be declared as sports nurseries to promote sporting activities at educational institutes and making participation mandatory for all students.

The sports secretary further added that the policy contains sports development and promotional strategies including both “non-development and developmental strategies”.

The organisational structures of both governmental and non-governmental organisations and other related departments, their roles and responsibilities are also defined in the policy for successful and smooth implementation, he added referring to the government-governed ‘departmental’ teams and the more recent private teams and sports in specialised leagues.

In this regard, the K-P Sports Department will also establish Provincial Sports Management Committees.

Explaining the grassroots level work enshrined in the policy, Tariq said that the district sports officer, in collaboration with the concerned association, set up clubs for each and every game which is played in the Olympics.

Moreover, conducting indigenous games of K-P, such as the hugely popular wrestling, polo and buzkashi, shall also be the responsibility of the district sports officer.

Experts say that this policy will provide opportunities to the youth of the province to ensure healthy participation in sports and bring a positive change in the society.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 26th, 2018.

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