CM directs utilising all resources to host National Games

K-P will host the event after a lapse of eight and half years

PESHAWAR: Thousands of players will converge on Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa during the 33rd National Games 2019 which are scheduled to begin from October 26 and continue till November 1 at Peshawar Sports Complex.

While chairing a meeting of the steering committee on the National Games, the Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has directed to ensure all out support, cooperation and complete preparation for hosting the National Games.

The torch ceremony for the National Games will initiate from Mazar-i-Quaid Karachi which will reach Peshawar via Babusar Pass, Naran, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Islamabad, Attock and Nowshera on October 20, 2019.

The meeting was informed that the opening ceremony of 33rd National Games would be held on October 26, 2019 at Qayyum Sports Complex while the closing ceremony would be arranged on November 01, 2019.

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The chief minister was informed that thousands of players will face each other in 30 different types of games including teams from Azad Jammu Kashmir, Balochistan, Gilgit Baltistan, Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Army, Higher Education Commission, Pakistan Navy, Police, Railways and Wapda.

A total of 27 female and 32 male athletes will participate in the 33rd edition of the National Games to be hosted by K-P after a lapse of eight and half years with Rs. 170 million allocated by the govt to ensure all facilities to the players during their stay in the provincial capital.

Different types of games have been arranged at different sports grounds and places that include Jamrud Sports Complex, Hayatabad Sports Complex, Qayyum Sports Complex, PAF Sports Complex, Peshawar Golf Club, Government College Peshawar, Northern Bhai Pass Peshawar, Tahmas Khan Stadium, Charsadda Sports Complex, Mardan Sports Complex and Abbottabad, two of the Games will be organized in Islamabad and one Game at Karachi.

CM has directed to ensure the provision of fullproof security and healthcare facilities during the event. He also approved Law and Order and health committees for the purpose.

He further directed the district police officers of districts concerned to remain alert for providing secure routes for the torch ceremony.

He particularly directed the K-P Directorate of Sports to ensure provision of high quality sports kits and other equipment.

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Mahmood had actually taken the initiative and agreed to the proposal of hosting the games when President Pakistan Olympic Association Lt Gen (Retd) Arif Hassan called on him.

CM had readily accepted the proposal by allocating a handsome grant for the smooth conduct of the games in Peshawar.

The chief minister stated that the incumbent government of Pakistan Tehrik e Insaf is focused on providing healthy recreational activities to its youth through the construction of sports grounds in every District along with the establishment of Sports Complexes at various parts of the province.

He said that the holding of National Games in K-P will not only help in promoting Inter- Provincial Coordination (IPC) among the youth but will also provide an opportunity to project the positive and hospitable image of the province at the national level.

The meeting was attended by Senior Minister for Sports and Tourism Muhammad Atif Khan, Chief Secretary Saleem Khan, Federal Secretary IPC, Director General Sports KP, Administrative Secretaries of concerned departments, Inspector General Police, Commissioner Peshawar, Representatives of 11 Corps and other concerned departments.

Meanwhile, CM Mahmood Khan stated that certain corrupt political elements are using religious card against the federal government which reflects their state of desperation to get back into government circles.

He clarified that Jamiat Ulema Islam does not have the strength to march towards Islamabad adding that people have understood the real intentions of these people and will not allow them to suceed.

He was addressing a huge public gathering at Bisham in District Shangla, where Baba-e-Shangla and ANP leader Al Haj Saeed Farin Shah announced joining Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf after remaining for 30 years in Awami National Party. Ex-candidate for National Assembly from ANP Haji Sadeedur Rehman and ex-Nazim from PML-N Mujeeb Khan also announced joining PTI.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 4^th, 2019.