PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has said that government is setting up modern squash complexes across the province including tribal districts to facilitate players.

He was talking to journalists after inauguration of a squash complex named after Qamar Zaman at Qayyum Sports Complex Peshawar. The squash complex has been set up at a cost of Rs119 million.

The chief minister said that government was fully determined to provide required facilities to the players at their doorsteps in all districts of the province. He said that steps were being taken to develop separate sports gymnasiums for female players in all regional headquarters. He also inaugurated open air gym completed as cost of Rs2.2 million.

Mr Khan said that government was committed to promoting healthy activities in the province. He said that government would establish 100 open air gyms throughout the province out of which 35 were already inaugurated.

The chief minister said that sports complexes would be established in every divisional headquarters including tribal districts whereas facilities in existing sports complexes were being upgraded. He said that government was working to ensure next Pakistan Super League was held in Peshawar.

Squash complex named after Qamar Zaman inaugurated

Former world champion Jansher Khan, Qamar Zaman, Mohibullah Khan, Adviser to Chief Minister Ajmal Wazir, MPAs Fazal-i-Elahi, Asif Khan, Malik Wajid, Sports Secretary Khushal Khan, Sports Director General Asfandyar Khan Khattak, Sports Director Rashida Ghaznavi, Director Operation Syed Saqlain Shah, former Asian gold medalist Aamir Atlas and a good numbers of squash players were also present on the occasion.

The chief minister was informed that sports department planned various projects including 20 additional squash courts in Peshawar, improvement of Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium, establishment of multi-purpose gymnasium in Nowshera, providing indoor facilities to Kohat Sports Complex, providing indoor sports facilities for female players at divisional headquarters, sports complex in Rustam Mardan, athletics tartan tracks in Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan and Kohat, hockey turfs in Islamia College Peshawar, Swat, Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan and Charsadda and setting up sports complex in Swat.

Qamar Zaman appreciated the chief minister for taking quick decision about the much needed squash complex. He said that construction of five squash courts in Qayyum Sports Complex and two in Nawi Kallay would meet the needs of the players.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2020