Punjab government, on the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi, has approved a Sports Endowment Fund of Rs 2 billion on Friday.
In this regard, an MoU signing ceremony was held at National Hockey Stadium where Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail and General Manager Pension Punjab Muhammad Sajid signed the MoU documents.
Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz, Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Raja Jahangir Anwar, Director Sports Yasmeen Akhtar, SO Shahzad Ali, Haroon Zafar, Deputy Director Zahoor Ahmed and other officials were also present on this occasion.
Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz has elaborated the major features of Sports Endowment Fund in a video message on Friday. He said that an Endowment Fund of Rs 2 billion has been established and this money will be spent for the welfare of deserving players. “The top performing deserving players will be given monthly stipends”.
Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz further said that Sports Board Punjab will organize multiple sports competitions across the province throughout the year with this fund. “And ultimately, the talented players will get sufficient playing opportunities through these sports competitions to polish sports skills. Not only this but the top position holders and other prominent performers will also be given handsome cash prizes,” he added.
Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz informed that the training and coaching camps of the players will also be conducted using money from the Sports Endowment Fund. “Through this fund, now our players who have limited resources will be able to participate in national and international sports competitions without any hurdle,” he asserted.
Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz said that after this historic development, now we will be in a better position to send our talented athletes abroad from international training and invite world reputed trainers for the coaching purpose over here.
Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz further said that definitely the launching of Sports Endowment Fund is a revolutionary initiative of Punjab government for which I would like to thank Punjab Chief Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi. “This project, which has been stalled for 12 years, was resolved by the Chief Minister of Punjab through his visionary approach,” he added.
Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Raja Jahangir Anwar on this occasion said that the launching of Sports Endowment Fund will play a key role in the promotion of true sports culture among the younger generation of the province.
Sharing his views regarding Sports Endowment Fund, Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail said that now, thanks to this fund, Sports Board Punjab will be able to execute its sports development plans properly.