Sports Board Punjab and Health Services Academy, Islamabad have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for modern training of players, coaches and sports officials at an impressive ceremony held at the Punjab Stadium on Friday.
Provincial Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar was the chief guest at the MoU signing ceremony.
Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Muhammad Ali, former Provincial Health Minister Dr Javed Akram, Additional Secretary Sports Shabbir Hussain Cheema, Dr. M Iftikhar Awan, Dr. Moazzam Tanveer and Dr. Safdar Baloch were also present on the occasion.
The MoU was signed by Director Admin Abid Shaukat and Dr. Ijaz Asghar, Deen of Health Services Academy while Secretary Sports Punjab Muhammad Ali and Vice Chancellor Health Services Academy Dr Shahzad Ali Khan exchanged the MoU documents.
Addressing the ceremony, Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that the training of the Health Services Academy Islamabad experts will help a lot in eliminating the fitness problems of the players. "Coaches will be given world class training under this programme".
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that sports schools are being established and Punjab is going to start work on sports research for the first time. "The Institute of Sports Sciences Punjab will be utilized to establish a sports school and research centre".
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar further said that comprehensive capacity building program is being devised for coaching staff including Tehsil and District Sports Officers. "Practical measures will be taken with the collaboration of School Education Department."
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar informed that Sports Board Punjab will provide land, infrastructure and logistic support for the project and the health experts will be given access to athletes, coaches, data and sports venues for research activities. "The sports fields are being made functional under the vision of Chief Minister Punjab. The talent hunt and talent development program will be made more effective".