Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar has presided over the General Body meeting of Sports Board Punjab at the National Hockey Stadium on Monday in which several important decisions were made for the promotion of sports and welfare of athletes.
Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Muhammad Ali, Director General Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Khizar Afzaal Chaudhry, MNA Shamayla Rana, MPA Ajmal Khan Chandia, Punjab Olympic Association CEO Idris Haider Khawaja, Director Sports Rana Nadeem Anjum, Director Admin Abid Shaukat, Arshad Sattar from Pakistan Wrestling Federation, Senior Sports Journalist Zahid Maqsood, Olympian Shabana Akhtar, Atif Bhatti and other officials participated in the meeting.
Besides them, the officers and representatives from Finance Department, Local Government, Regulation and other departments also participated in the meeting. Director General Sports Punjab Khizar Afzaal Chaudhry gave an in-depth briefing to participants of the meeting.
During the meeting, approval was given to award prizes to the coaches of the team playing in Asian Volleyball Championship in Thailand. A high power Executive Committee was also established for making important decisions. The audit reports and calculations of accounts were also presented in the meeting.
Addressing the meeting, Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar announced that a sports housing society will be established for the employees of Punjab Sports Department and veteran players on 549-kanal land. “The plan of sports housing society will be presented in the next General Body meeting of Sports Board Punjab. Punjab Sports Department is also planning to construct Pakistan's first Sports City on 1,500 kanals land”.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that Punjab has become the first province of country in which the players and officials have received a record increase in terms of daily allowance. “Rs 2000 will be given to the players, Rs 2500 to the technical official and Rs 1000 will be given for local rent for the first time”.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar announced that an artificial leg will be implanted to para-athlete M Nadeem at a cost of Rs one million. He said that no employee of Sports Board Punjab will be terminated from job. “All facilities of Punjab Sports Department are free for players while the hostel rates have also been reduced”.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar further said that the sports associations of the province will be strengthened and their grants will also be increased. “The grant procedure and registration process of sports associations will be regulated. Sports Board Punjab’s two canteens and former FWO premises will be rented out”.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that an 8-member HR committee has been formed for appointments in Sports Board Punjab under the leadership of Vice Chairman Sports Board Punjab. “The 8-member committee is consisted of Idris Haider Khawaja from Punjab Olympic Association and key officials. The committee will appoint expert coaches and other key appointments”.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that Divisional, District and Tehsil Sports Committees have also been established after a long time. “Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner will be head of divisional and district sports committees respectively. All sports facilities of Punjab have been made digitalized for which the software is ready to function. “Annual sports awards will be given to the players and in this regard, senior sports journalist Zahid Maqsood has been appointed the chairman of the committee.”
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar informed the meeting that the staff will be appointed for newly constructed Punjab International Squash Complex. Besides this, the sports psychologist and physiotherapist will also be appointed to improve the performance of athletes.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that the financial affairs of all divisions will be digitalized to ensure transparency and accuracy. “All employees of Punjab Sports Department will be given honorarium of Rs 15000 on Eid. Full media campaign will be conducted before every major sports event”.