MULTAN: District Coordination Officer Zahid Saleem Gondal said on Wednesday that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had approved a Rs40 million special grant for laying an astro turf here for promoting sports activities.

Addressing the prize distribution ceremony of a baseball championship in line with national independence celebrations, the DCO said the old ‘desi kushti’ facility near the Willayat Hussain College would be upgraded to promote and keep alive the traditional wrestling art.

He said 18 different events had so far been successfully held across the district in connection with national independence celebrations.

“Multan is the only district which has given many players to the national baseball squad,” Zahid added.

The DCO further said the land under illegal occupation of land grabbers near Willayat Hussain College would be retrieved and allocated to build a sports complex.

Earlier, DCO gave Rs12,000 cash prize and trophy to Multan Eagle team, the winners of the baseball championship.

Runners-up Multan Strikers received Rs8,000 cash prize and trophy.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2014