A delegation of senior officers from the National Management Course (NMC) inspected several sports venues at the Nishtar Park Sports Complex (NPSC) in Lahore on Thursday. The visit, which included senior officers pursuing promotion from grade 20 to 21, focused on key facilities such as the National Hockey Stadium, NPSC Gymnasium Hall, Punjab Stadium, and the Punjab International Swimming Complex.
During the visit, the Director General (DG) of Youth Affairs and Sports Punjab, Pervez Iqbal, provided a detailed briefing about the various features of these facilities, as well as ongoing efforts in the sports sector of the Punjab province. According to Pervez Iqbal, Punjab boasts 538 sports facilities, of which 119 are in the Lahore division, with others spread across major cities like Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, and Multan.
In a significant development, sports clubs across the province have been registered for the first time in history. These clubs will receive financial support, and over 120,000 players will compete in the upcoming CM Khelta Punjab Games, a province-wide sporting event. Furthermore, a notable initiative of the Sports Endowment Fund will award honorariums to 200 top-performing athletes for one year. Athletes will receive stipends in three categories: Rs70,000 in the Platinum category, Rs50,000 in Gold, and Rs30,000 in Silver. This program aims to encourage and support player development throughout the province, ensuring the discovery of new talent.
The NMC officers inquired about various aspects of the province’s sports policy, the roles of sports boards, associations, and clubs, and the criteria for athlete selection. DG Pervez Iqbal addressed these queries comprehensively, emphasizing the department’s dedication to the promotion of sports.
The inspection aligns with the Punjab government’s ongoing efforts to maintain and enhance international-level sports infrastructure at the Nishtar Park Sports Complex. Recent visits by Punjab Minister for Sports Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar have also highlighted a focus on constructing new sports grounds and ensuring that the state-of-the-art facilities are well-maintained for upcoming major sports competitions.
