A multi-purpose sports complex, costing over Rs 50 million, will be constructed in Kotli Amir Ali.
This was disclosed by prominent sports commentator Zakir Hussain, at a ceremony to sign the lease documents of the land for proposed complex at the district Nazim's Office here on Monday.
He said the sports complex, with a capacity of 8,000 spectators, would be developed on 10 acres of land and would be completed under a three-year phase programme.
Zakir Syed was confident that the proposed complex, on completion, would help promote indoor games like squash, volleyball, badminton, table tennis and basketball.
He said Sialkot, which was renowned globally for producing standard sport goods, had also produced players of hockey and cricket of international repute.
It may be mentioned that Kotli Amir Ali, where the sports complex would be constructed, is the native village of Zakir Syed is situated on Sialkot-Daska Road at a distance of seven kilometres from the city. Zakir Syed has leased the land for the proposed sports complex for 99 year and the lease money and annual recurring expenditure will be borne by Sialkot district government and construction of the complex will be made by the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), while the Federal government would provide funds. Speaking on the occasion, district Nazim Mian Naeem Javed said that adequate efforts were being made for the promotion of sports activities in the district.
He said that an ultra-modern hockey stadium, costing Rs 70.5 million, was being constructed at Sialkot and the work on this project would start soon.
Similarly, necessary steps were being taken for the improvement of Jinnah Stadium for raising its standard for holding international matches, he added.