PTI govt committed to promoting sports: PM Imran

Imran Khan vows to promote sports events at the grassroots level

PESHAWAR: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said that his government is committed to promoting sporting activities across the country.

He said this while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) 'Under-21 Games'. More than 2,940 players from across the province are participating in the games which commenced at the Qayyum Sports Complex on Monday.

PM Imran said that sporting activities will be enhanced at union council and the village levels to highlight the talent of the youth.

The prime minister added that sports bring positive changes in society besides providing an environment for a healthy competition. He urged the youth to come forward and make the country a great nation.

Having gained worldwide fame for leading the country to its first cricket world cup, Imran asserted that sports play a key role in the healthy upbringing of the youth. In this regard, he said that the incumbent Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led government will leave no stone unturned in ensuring the provision of the best possible sporting facilities to them at their doorstep.

He expressed his resolve to promote sports' events at the grassroots level to exploit the true potential of the youth.

PM Imran added that life is a competition and sports helps people learn the art of playing competitions. He said that a true champion always learns from his defeat without being demoralised and added that it was sports which helped him wage a long political struggle.

The former cricketer added only those nations emerged as strong who can valiantly cope with the difficult times. He expressed the hope that Pakistan too will emerge as a strong nation and that the youth have an important role in that regard.

The K-P government, he said, was focusing on the promotion of sporting activities. Imran lauded the organisers of the mega event, noting that it will certainly have a positive impact on the youth.

He hoped that the talent of Pakistan would surface worldwide from such sports occurrences time and again.

Earlier, the athletes from different districts of the province took part in a march past, followed by the national anthem.

The winners and runners-up of the games will be awarded cash prizes besides the provision of a monthly stipend to the medalists and top three, position holders.

K-P Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, Governor Shah Farman, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri, Defence Minister Pervez Khattak, Minister for Postal Services and Communication Murad Saeed, Provincial Assembly Speaker Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani,  K-P Finance Minister Taimur Saleem Khan Jhagra, Adviser to the CM on Information Ajmal Khan Wazir, Chief Secretary Dr Kazim Niaz, Secretary Sports Khushal Khan, K-P Sports Director General Asfandyar Khan Khattak, attended the opening ceremony.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 10^th, 2020.