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| July 15, 2006 | Saturday | Jumadi-ul-Sani 18, 1427 |
Rs120bn Sports City Project launched
LAHORE, July 14: Punjab Government on Friday signed a project of Rs120 billion foreign investment with UAE’s sporting personality Abdul Rahman Bukhatir for building a state-of-the-art Sports City in the province.
Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and Bukhatir signed the agreement at the Chief Minister House.
The proposed Sports City will be built at a land of three thousand acres and the work will be started soon.
“We are optimistic that the project will be completed in four years and with its completion Pakistan will join those countries which have a modern infrastructure under one roof for all sports,” declared Punjab chief minister.
He believed that with the completion of this ambitious project Pakistan would be able to organise top sporting events like Commonwealth Games which will enhance Pakistan’s sporting image around the world besides promoting sports and tourism activities.
“Our country is rich in sports talent which is being wasted due to lack of facilities and infrastructure. With Sports City offering latest training facilities in different disciplines this talent will be identified and polished to meet future challenges in the field of sports at international level,” he said.
The chief minister claimed that he was confident that the Sport City will be a project of its own kind and the first-ever in the history of Pakistan and would help in creating a new culture in sports in the country.
“Besides providing world class facilities to athletes, the Sport City will also be a source to bring economic prosperity by creating job opportunities for thousands. It is not a mere sporting venture it has also its own implications in terms of putting the country on the road to progress.”
Bukhatir, who introduced cricket in the United Arab Emirates through Cricketers Benefit Fund Series (CBFS) said the Sports City will have separate grounds and facilities for all major sports including football, hockey, cricket and tennis.
“We will also be constructing around ten thousand residential houses where 200,000 people can reside.. The Sports City will offer high quality training and coaching programmes and facilities besides educating the sportsmen which will make it a distinctive project at international level” he added.
“We believe that it would be a complete city in terms of offering world's best sports facilities and all the sports will be played at one arena and people can enjoy a number of sporting events amid festivity,” he said.
Bukhatir said this project will be a big source of revenue generation for the Pakistan Government as Rs 12 to 13 billions will be generated during the first four years after its launch.
While comparing it with the Sports City under construction in Dubai, Bukhatir said this facility would be three times bigger than that and for its construction the services of a two thousand labour force will be hired.
“Number of shopping malls will also be a part of the sports city which will help in exporting sports goods being manufactured in Pakistan.”—Agencies
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