Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Taimoor Masood said that it is memorable day in Punjab’s sports history when we gathered here to honour our national sports heroes; he said this while addressing the Pride of Punjab and Lifetime Achievement Awards ceremony at Nishtar Park Sports Complex Gymnasium Hall here on Monday.
Advisor to Chief Minister for Information Omer Sarfraz Cheema, Chief Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal, MPA Sania Kamran, Secretary Information Raja Mansoor, Vice Chairman Sports Board Punjab Rao Zahid Qayyum, Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Ali Jan Khan, Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi, Director Sports Nadeem Qaiser, Deputy Director Tariq Wattoo, Assistant Director Zahoor Ahmed and other top officials also attended the ceremony.
Olympian Javelin Thrower Arshad Nadeem, Weightlifter Nooh Dastgir Butt, veteran Wrestler Din Muhammad, Snooker World Champion Ahsan Ramzan, Sports administrators Maj-Gen (retd) Akram Sahi and Arshad Sattar, Wrestlers Inam Butt, Zaman Anwar, Ali Asad and Sharif Tahir, Olympian Shabana Akhtar, badminton coach Zarina Waqar and Athletics official M Ijaz son of late athletics legend Abdul Khaliq were also present on this occasion.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Taimoor Masood on this occasion presented a traditional turban and a special souvenir to Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi. In return, Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi also presented a traditional turban to Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Taimoor Masood.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Taimoor Masood further said that the medal winners of Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and Islamic Solidarity Games are our national heroes and the entire nation is proud of their achievements. “Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi is taking keen interest in the promotion of sports and that’s why he announced to construct a modern stadium in the Olympian Javelin Thrower Arshad Nadeem”.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Taimoor Masood further said, “We are celebrating this occasion in a simple manner due country-wide destruction and huge loss caused by the massive floods. I congratulate the parents, coaches and team management of medal winning athletes”.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Taimoor Masood offered that the medal winning athletes of different games can utilise Punjab’s all sports facilities any time. “We are putting special emphasis on the grooming of players at a young age and for this purpose, we are planning to trace one million talented players from different schools of Punjab. After thorough training and nurturing, we will be able to prepare several athletes for future international sports competitions”.