ISLAMABAD-Federal Sports Minister Mir Ijaz Hussain Jakhrani Friday said that the present government gives prime importance to sports and Prime Minister himself is taking personal interest for the promotion of games in country. “Better cooperation between media and government machinery will promote sports culture in Pakistan.
He said while addressing the oath taking ceremony of newly elected office bearers of Rawalpindi Islamabad Sports Journalists Association (RISJA) here at Pakistan Sports Complex Islamabad on Friday.
Federal minister for Textile Industry, President Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) Syed Dilawar Abbas, Chairman Senate Standing Committee for Sports Senator Abdul Ghaffar Qureshi, fromer senator Enver Baig, Advisor to Prime Minister Mian Muhamad Ayub, Member National Assembly Tariq Fazal Chaudhary, Director General Pakistan Sports Board Syed Amir Hamza Gillani, former DG PSB Zakir Hussain Syed, Senior Vice President of Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) Air Vice Marshal Asim Suleman, Director Media PCB Nadeem Sarwar, former Olympian Shehnaz Shiekh, former test cricketer Col. ® Naushad Ali, test cricketer Yasir Arafat, President Alpine Club of Pakistan Nazir Sabir, and President Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Pervez Shaukat and other high personalities were also on the oath taking ceremony.
The sports minister said that media plays great role in the promotion of sports and no government could run the affairs smoothly without the cooperation of the media.
“Federal Ministry of Sports also gives prime importance to the opinion of sports scribes and respects the recommendations as well as the positive criticism by the RISJA members,” the minister said.
He said that the ministry would improve its coordination with sports journalists and will also play its role to solve their problems.
Highlighting the importance of sportspersons, he said players are an asset for any country and federal government will provide every facility to national sportspersons.
The minister said that government would take steps on priority bases to improve the standards of sports and bring the talent up from the grass root level.
He also announced a grant of Rs. 0.4 million for RISJA members.
Addressing the ceremony, federal minister for Textile Rana Farooq Saeed said that all stakeholders will have to sit together and launch joint efforts to improve the sports state.
He said that federations should play their role to bring back international events to Pakistan and enable their teams to regain past glory through winning in mega events.
Federal sports minister also distributed cash awards of Rs 1.6 million and Rs. 0.8 million among Muhammad Irshad and Muhammad Irfan for winning medals in Commonwealth games Athletics and Weightlifting events respectively.
Comments