Punjab Youth Affairs and Sports Department in collaboration with Regional Directorate Anti-Narcotics Force Punjab organized an awareness seminar ‘Invest in Prevention’ under the theme of ‘Say no to Drug and Stay Healthy’ on the eve of International Anti-Narcotics Day at SBP E-Library on Wednesday.
Director General Sports Punjab Pervez Iqbal, Chairman Akhuwat Dr Amjad Saqib and Commander Anti-Narcotics Force Punjab Brig Sikandar Hayat Chaudhry were the guests of honour on this occasion.
Director Admin M Kaleem, Director Youth Affairs Rana Nadeem Anjum, Olympian Khawaja Junaid, Commissioner Girl Guide Prof Sarwat Hamid, Prof Dr Shaheena Asif and Uzma Umar were also present on this occasion.
Addressing the seminar, Director General Sports Punjab Pervez Iqbal said that Sports Board Punjab is organizing healthy sports programmes and activities to eradicate the menace of drugs from the society. “Ending the scourge of drugs is indispensable for establishing a healthy society and Sports Board Punjab is utilizing all of its resources for this noble cause”.
Director General Sports Punjab Pervez Iqbal further said that such events will prove to be very helpful for the eradication of drugs menace among the youth. “We are ready to sign an MoU with Anti-Narcotics Force Punjab to eradicate drugs from the society. Our all facilities are available for healthy activities.”
Director General Sports Punjab Pervez Iqbal said that true sports culture is being promoted as per vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. “New sports grounds and facilities are being constructed in far-flung areas of the province with the cost of Rs 7.5 billion while Rs 6.5 billion will be spent on the restoration of old sports complexes and facilities,” he informed.
Director General Sports Punjab Pervez Iqbal also congratulated Brig Sikandar Hayat and his team on organising an effective awareness programme to eradicate drugs. He also prayed for youth to get rid of drugs abuse.
Chairman Akhuwat Dr Amjad Saqib on this occasion said teachers and parents can play an important role in protecting the youth from the menace of drugs. “Parents should spend plenty of time with their children to protect them from bad company”.
Dr Amjad Saqib further said that drug rehabilitation centers are quite expensive and to avoid such an expensive treatment a drugs addict patients’ rehabilitation should start from their homes.
Commander Anti-Narcotics Force Punjab Brig Sikandar Hayat Chaudhry in his speech thanked DG Sports Punjab Pervez Iqbal for extending all facilities for organising this wonderful programme. He expressed his determination to take all possible measures for the eradication of drugs menace from the society.
Olympian Khawaja Junaid, Commissioner Girl Guide Prof Sarwat Hamid and Prof Dr Shaheena Asif also addressed the seminar and highlighted the harms of drugs. They also urged the youth to lead a healthy life and refrain from all negative activities including drugs use.
Earlier, an exhibition hockey match was played at National Hockey Stadium Pitch-2 in the presence of former Olympians Manzoorul Hasan, Tauqeer Dar, Kh Junaid and former Pakistan Test captain M Yousuf.
A large number of boys and girls, sports players, organisers and officials of Anti-Narcotics Force Punjab also took part in an awareness walk from National Hockey Stadium to SBP E-Library.