BEIJING, Aug 16: Federal Minister for Sports Najamuddin Khan has said the government is trying to encourage participation of youth in sports activities.

He said in an interview that the aim of the government was to ensure active participation of at least fifty per cent of the young population in sports.

The minister said the government would do everything to regain the glory the country had enjoyed in different sports.

“We were world champions in hockey, cricket, squash and snooker in 1990s and we have to achieve that feat again,” he said.

He said that during his stay in China, he held meetings with heads of sports delegations from different countries, including senior officials from the UN and ministers from the Commonwealth counties.

They all agreed to provide technical assistance for promotion of games in Pakistan, he added.

He said that under a plan of the government, sports academies and complexes would be set up in every district of the province.

“We have proposed to the government to hold sports activities right from the primary school level,” the minister said.

He also suggested holding of inter-city and inter-provincial tournaments to discover new talent.—APP