LAHORE, March 4: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has increased the annual grant of the Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) to Rs2.5 million from Rs500,000.

The prime minister made the announcement while distributing prizes among the winners of the 39th National athletics championship at the Punjab Stadium on Friday.

AFP president Maj. General Safdar Hussain had requested for the increase up to Rs two million, but the prime minister said that he would give more to the demand. He also said that the federal and the provincial governments would help the federation to establish the School of Athletics in Lahore.

The prime minister said that Pakistan should gear up the preparations from right now with setting a target for the next Olympics. He urged the sports persons to hard work to achieve their targets at all level.

He agreed that though the facilities for the sports persons were limited but with the help of strong spirit and passion they could achieve it. He said that the government was providing all out facilities for the students to continue their sports activities with education.