SBP building best sports infrastructure in Punjab: Minister      

LAHORE: Punjab's interim Sports Minister Shaukat Javed Monday appreciated Sports Board Punjab's efforts for the development of sports and expressed his determination to utilize all resources for the better future of sports in the province.

He was addressing a performance review meeting of Sports Board Punjab (SBP) here at the National Hockey Stadium. Secretary Sports Punjab Ayub Chaudhry gave a detailed briefing about the Board’s past and future sports projects during the meeting.

Director Administration Javed Chohan, Director Sports Hafeez Bhatti, Additional Secretary Zahid Hussain, Deputy Secretary Ahmed Kamal, Anees Sheikh, Director Project Management Unit Akram Soban and other top officials also attended the meeting.

Shaukat Javed, who was Chef de Mission of Pakistan contingent at Rio Olympics in Brazil in 2016, said it was the government's responsibility to build sports infrastructure in the province and the Sports Board Punjab was doing its duty satisfactorily.

He said being the Vice-President of Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), he was quite aware of his duties as Punjab Sports Minister.

"I am ready to cooperate fully for the promotion of spots in the province. Building top level sports infrastructure in the province is definitely a great task and it requires collective efforts and we will take all possible measures to achieve our goal," he added.

The minister lauded the role of Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) in the development of sports in the country. He also appreciated the decision of issuance of annual grants to sports associations.

Shaukat Javed said archery and baseball stadiums would also be built in the province. "It's basic need of any sport to have a well-furnished playground for the young talented players.

There is a great swimming facility for potential swimmers in the shape of state of the aArt Punjab International Swimming Complex. Young swimmers must take full benefit of this international level facility," he added.

Ayub Chaudhry, on the occasion, said the establishing best sports infrastructure in the province was the top priority of Sports Board Punjab. It would conduct district, divisional and provincial level sports competitions in near future, he added.