Provincial Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Jehangir Khanzada presided over the 2nd meeting of core committee of Sports Board Punjab at Lahore Hockey Stadium today. Member National Assembly Shanza Fatima, Vice Chairman Steering Committee for Sports Board Punjab and head of Project Management Unit Hanif Abbasi, former President Hockey Federation Akhtar Rasool, senior member Intikhab Alam, Secretary Sports Punjab Nayyar Iqbal, Director General Zulfiqar Ghuman, Director Sports Muhammad Anees Sheikh besides concerned officers were present on the occasion. The purpose of the meeting was to develop playfields in the province, launching of talent hunt programme and devising of a strategy for provision of scholarships to talented and deserving players from Sports Endowment Fund. Addressing the meeting, Jehangir Khanzada said that there is a need for searching and polishing sports talent found in small districts of Punjab at government level and providing them opportunities to prove their worth. He said that increase of one billion rupees in Sports Endowment Fund by the Chief Minister Punjab and the approval of talent hunt programme will help encourage sportsmen. He said that sports help in controlling unhealthy activities. The Minister directed the committee members to make plans for early start of the programme so that proper utilization of the funds could be ensured. Members of the committee presented their proposals in this regard. Secretary Sports said that provision of infrastructure for holding of sports events in all districts is the priority of the government. Zulfiqar Ghuman stressed the need for training of coaches at par with international standard. He told that Train the Trainers Programme has been launched by Punjab Sports Board and a team of British experts has reached Lahore for this purpose. Hanif Abbasi appreciated the government decision to increase the number of cricket grounds. Akhtar Rasool presented proposals for promotion of hockey as a national sport. The Minister directed Secretary Sports to evolve a framework with consultation with all members so that after formation of district committees, sports events could be arranged as early as possible.
