KARACHI: The secretary of the Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) Mohammad Zafar said on Wednesday two new tartan tracks are being laid at Lahore and Faisalabad in due course that will boost standard of track and field in the country.

“With the laying of two new synthetic surfaces, the tartan track facilities in the country will rise to six as the same already exists in Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta and Karachi,’ he told Dawn after arriving from Lahore here on a short visit.

Accompanied by the provincial president of SAA Zahid Rizvi and other officials, he visited the PSB Coaching Centre to inspect the arrangement being made for the 48th National Athletics Championship which is slated here next month.

He disclosed that the PSB was extending all help for hosting the mega event and on his request sent a team to carry out repair and maintenance work at the tartan track that has completed his life long time ago.

Asked what support the AFP will lend to SAA in organising the event, he said: “The meet will be held in collaboration with the AFP and it will provide all technical expertise etc.”

To a question, Zafar, who is director general Administration Wapda, said a pool of budding athletes including women were coming forward to take up the reins.

He rated Pakistan’s top javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem as an athlete having potential to rise. He is a bronze medallist at the Asian junior athletics championship held at Ho Chi Minh, Taiwan.

It is pertinent to mention that he was sent to Mauritius for training but returned due to home sickness recently.

Answering another question, he said the coming National Athletics Championship will form basis for selection of athletes for the future commitment.

He said Wapda is playing vital role for the promotion of sports in the country and had approximately 1400 to 1500 sportspersons on its pay roll.

“We’ve introduced Wapda benevolent fund for sports which envisaged giving stipends to selected school children having knack for sports up to 18 years without any bond to serve the institution later,” he remarked.

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2017