Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that Punjab Sports Department will spend Rs 5 billion on the maintenance of sports facilities besides establishing Punjab’s first ever Maintenance and Repair Department for looking after valuable sports facilities of the province in a proper way; he expressed these views while addressing a press conference at National Hockey Stadium on Monday.
Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Muzaffar Khan Sial, Director General Sports Punjab Pervez Iqbal, Deputy Director Zahoor Ahmed and other officials were also present on this occasion.
Addressing the press conference, Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that constructing a top class sports facility is not a big issue. “The actual task is to maintain and look after that state-of-the-art sports facilities in a proper and professional manner but unfortunately this important factor was totally ignored in the past. Our Maintenance and Repair Department will look after the valuable sports facilities fully,” he added.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has zero tolerance on corruption and competency. “She picked up competent and right persons in every department to run the affairs transparently and in smooth manner”.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that past government badly neglected hundreds of sports facilities, complexes and sports infrastructure which was built by former Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and now these sports complexes are presenting pathetic look. “Literally, I was in shock after seeing 113 valuable sports facilities and infrastructure, including stadium, grounds and sports complexes in dilapidated condition during my visits to different tehsils and districts of the province,” he added.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has special focus on sports and youth affairs. “She has directed to construct multipurpose sports facilities and complexes in all provincial constituencies to promote healthy sports activities among youth of the province”.
Making a big announcement, Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has increased the amount of Sports Endowment Fund from Rs 2 to 4 billion for the welfare of players of the province. “Online Sports Complaint Cell is also being established where sports circles can raise different kind of sports issues including lack of sports facilities”.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that Punjab Chief Minister has given us a task to build 300 sports facilities in one-year time. “We will conduct sports competitions in every city and union council of the province. We will say welcome to every useful suggestions from any journalist for the promotion of sports,” he added.
Faisal Ayub Khokhar informed that a Sports Advisory Council is also being established in which there will be students from 10 universities. “We will organize Punjab League for the first time in the Punjab province in the competitions of various games will be held at the union council level. Besides this, we will also bring international coaches for world level training of our players”.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that a 12-month annual sports calendar has been created according to which all sports competitions will be organized as per a prescribed schedule. “Punjab Sports Department will also organize sports programmes with the collaboration of Punjab Education Department”.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that former Prime Minister Imran Khan was a sportsman but he did nothing for the betterment of players’ community and sports. “Punjab Sports Department is committed to promote sports culture across the province as per vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz,” he added.