Play ball: K-P to have 47 new sports stadiums by 2016

Minister for Information Mushtaq Ghani says funds have been allocated.

ABBOTABAD: Minister for Higher Education and Information Mushtaq Ghani said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government has allocated considerable funds for the promotion of athletics and sports. While speaking to those attending the opening ceremony of the inter-district squash tournament in Abbottabad on Wednesday, Ghani said at least 47 sports stadiums will be functional by the end of next year.

These actions have come as a result of newly-formed departmental working groups which made the above recommendations, he added. A talent hunt programme in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is underway as an effort to engage youth in positive sport activities.

The minister said 29 new stadiums would be completed in the ongoing fiscal year for which tenders have already been issued. The process of issuing tenders for the remaining number of stadiums is reportedly in the pipeline.

Discussing Abbottabad, Ghani said since the weather conditions were suitable for various sports, a gymnasium with facilities for indoor and outdoor sports was being built in the district at the cost of Rs150 million. Repair work of the existing AstroTurf hockey ground is in the works on a budget of Rs10 million.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 16^th, 2015.