CM proposes stipend card for players

1,400 new grounds will be set up in rural areas; hockey, football leagues planned

LAHORE:

Punjab government plans to launch hockey, football and kabaddi leagues in addition to expanding sports facilities.

This was announced by Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar while presiding over a meeting on initiatives taken for the promotion of sports in the province.

He also sought recommendations for issuing ‘Insaf Sports Card’ for paying stipend to players.

He said the government had allocated record budget to the provincial sports department.

The number of sports facilities in the province had increased from 300 to 618 and the budget of the sports department had been increased from Rs2 billion to Rs7.34 billion during the past three and a half years, he pointed out.

Only 300 sports facilities had been established in Punjab in the previous 70 years, while the current government had doubled their number, he added.

The chief minister said 1,400 new grounds were being setup in the rural areas of the province, out of which 150 had been completed and 350 more would be ready by the end of the ongoing financial year.

Sports complexes are being set up in 40 tehsils, of which 14 are ready. He said that 100 gyms would also be built in Punjab.

Chief Minister Buzdar said the country’s first hockey high-performance centre was being set up at Nishtar Park.

Work has also been started on the projects of a squash complex and table arena that had been pending for 30 years.

He disclosed that work had been started for setting up a boxing club and a shooting gallery.

The government would also launch leagues of hockey, football, kabaddi and other sports in Punjab, he added.

The meeting also reviewed launching of Insaf Sports Card to pay stipends to players.

The chief minister directed the officials concerned to submit their final recommendations for the issuance of the card at the earliest.

He said steps would be taken to encourage the players.

Provincial Sports Minister Taimoor Bhatti apprised the participants about steps taken for the promotion of sports in the province and the progress on providing new grounds to the people.

Chief Minister Usman Buzdar also issued instructions for ensuring the best arrangements for the Horse & Cattle Show in Lahore.

He said the show was being organised after  many years, therefore best arrangements should be made for the traditional event.

The chief minister said Pakistani culture should be highlighted in the best possible way through the show.

He said the Horse & Cattle Show would provide an opportunity to the people for entertainment. It would prove to be helpful in promoting national solidarity and brotherhood.

He reiterated that life had also returned to playgrounds across the province.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said in a statement that the country was passing through a critical phase and keeping in view the changes taking place in the region, there was a need to ensure unity and solidarity. Those who are trying to spread anarchy and chaos don’t care for the national interest, he added.

He added that the elements working against the national interest must be stopped by unity.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 6^th, 2022.