Sports and youth affairs allocation doubles

Punjab government earmarks Rs4b compared to last year’s Rs2b

LAHORE: To pay special attention to the promotion of sports and give importance to youth affairs, the Punjab government has earmarked Rs4 billion in the budget for FY2019-20, doubling the amount allocated in the current financial year 2018-19.

Compared to previous year's budget allocations of Rs2 billion, the provincial government has attached greater importance to youth affairs, sports development and creation of infrastructure.

The vision is to provide infrastructure for sports activities and to train talented players and the youth.

The objectives and priorities set in the budget include promoting the culture of sports activities and to develop facilities and infrastructure throughout the province.

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Authorities hope to lay down and formulate policies for the promotion of sports, to establish sports academies in all the districts and to engage sports veterans at the district and tehsil level to impart training to the talented youth. Some of the upcoming sports facilities are likely to be established through a public-private partnership.

The strategic interventions are tehsil sports complexes in Shujabad, Dunya Pur district in Lodhran, Jahanian district in Khanewal, Minchanabad in district Bahawalpur, in Khanpur district Rahim Yar Khan, in Lalian district in Chiniot, in Ahmadpur Sial district in Jhang, in Chak Jhumra district in Faisalabad and Isa Khail district in Mianwali.

Some of the milestones for FY2018-19 are the establishment of the Shehbaz Sharif hall for indoor games in Faisalabad, construction of a sports stadium at Gogera in Okara, development of a sports facility at village Padhana in Lahore, development of a ground in Kohrian in Lahore, the upgrade of a sports stadium at Chowk Azam Layyah city in district Layyah, construction of a gymnasium at Sheikhupura, the construction of a prototype gymnasium in seven tehsils of Punjab and the provision of missing facilities at a gymnasium in Sahiwal.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15^th, 2019.