RAWALPINDI: Deputy Commissioner Chaudhry Mohammad Ali Randhawa on Tuesday asked the sports department to make arrangements for holding night cricket matches in Ramazan.

He issued the direction during a meeting held to review arrangements for sports activities during the holy month.

Punjab Minister for Literacy and Basic Non-Formal Education Raja Rashid Hafeez, Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) Chairman Asif Mehmood and senior officials attended the meeting.the DC said the youth would be provided an opportunity to participate in healthy activities. Youngsters mostly play cricket on roads and streets but the administration would provide them separate places for night matches.

PHA chairman suggests arranging sponsors to provide sports facilities to youth

He said cricket matches would be held at the union council level.

The minister for literacy and basic non-formal education and the PHA chairman wanted to allocate separate spaces for night cricket matches.

The meeting was informed that there were five cricket grounds in the city - two belonged to the PHA and three were with the education department.

“There are two more grounds but these are in girls schools and would not be used for night matches,” a senior official told the meeting.

The deputy commissioner asked the district sports officer to submit a report about funds available with the department. He also asked civic bodies to provide him details about funds for sports activities in their respective areas.

However, the PHA chairman suggested arranging sponsors for the night matches.

He sought a week’s time from the district administration to arrange sponsors.

He said Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) had Rs20 million in its accounts for sports activities but the Punjab government did not want to spend the amount on night matches.

He said the PHA would hold a meeting with traders and Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) for sponsorship the night matches.

He said some traders had contacted him to support the administration to arrange grounds for the youth to play cricket.

The meeting was informed that school grounds would be opened at night for cricket matches and funds generated through these events would be utilised for maintenance of the grounds.

The minister also assured the district administration of help to provide sports facilities to the youth.

He said the government was working to improve the condition of existing grounds and establish new grounds both in urban and rural areas.

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2019