Provincial Minister for Sports Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar has welcomed the hosting of the global PUBG MOBILE esports event in Pakistan for the first time, describing it as a major achievement for the country and an important milestone for Pakistan's emerging esports industry. He said the participation of teams from 32 countries would further strengthen Pakistan's international recognition and provide young Pakistanis with new opportunities to showcase their talent.
The Provincial Minister attended the event, held at a private hotel in Lahore, as the Chief Guest. In his address, he highlighted the growing importance of esports, its vast potential for young people, and the need to promote digital sports in Pakistan.
Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that esports was no longer merely a form of entertainment but had evolved into a major global industry, offering new avenues for development and professional growth for young people. He noted that esports was expanding rapidly worldwide and that Pakistani youth possessed immense potential to excel in this emerging field.
He said that hosting an international esports event demonstrated Pakistan's capability to organize global sporting and digital competitions. The participation of teams from 32 countries provided an excellent opportunity to strengthen international sporting ties and project a positive image of Pakistan across the world.
The Provincial Minister said that, under the leadership of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, providing greater sporting opportunities to young people and developing their abilities remained among the government's key priorities. He emphasized that promoting modern digital sports and esports, alongside traditional sports, was the need of the hour. He further stated that esports could play a significant role in enhancing young people's cognitive abilities, strategic thinking, decision-making, discipline, and teamwork. He added that the sector also offered promising opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship in gaming, software development, digital marketing, event management, and other related fields.