PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Thursday announced a package of stipend for the winners of under-16 games held at national level last year to encourage and support them.

According to a statement issued here the package was announced by Chief Minister Mahmood Khan while addressing an event held here in the honour of the winners of under-16 games.

Under the package monthly stipend of Rs10,000 would be given to the winners of gold medals, Rs 8,000 to the winner of silver medals and Rs5,000 to the winners of bronze medals of under-16 games.

These monthly stipends would be provided to the winners for a period of one year.

CM terms promotion of sports top priority of govt

The chief minister said that government was spending huge amount of money to promote sport activities in the province and provide standard sports facilities to the players.

He added that Annual Development Programme of sport department was increased manifold for the purpose.

He said that government would continue to assist players to pursue their careers. He directed the authorities concerned to take immediate steps to activate the bank accounts of players so that transfer of monthly stipend could be ensured by March.

The chief minister also distributed various sports kits amongst 161 winner players of under-16 games.

Provincial Minister Shahram Khan Tarakai, Special Assistant to Chief Minister Kamran Bangash, Sports Secretary Abid Majeed, the director general sports and a large number of young players also attended the event.

The participants of the event were told that 161 players from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa got medals in the under-16 games. Of them 59 players won gold medals and 34 got silver medals.

The chief minister said that promotion of sports activities was top priority of government.

He added that government increased uplift budget of supports department from Rs4,383 million in 2014-15 to Rs21,188 million in 2020-21.

He said that government also approved Rs7.5 billion for construction and rehabilitation of sports infrastructure in tribal districts.

He said that in the current financial year government approved four sports complexes in Chitral, Lakki Marwat, Tank and Karak whereas sports complexes in eight districts of the province were already established.

The chief minister said that the province hosted national games after almost a decade.

He said that government was planning to hold under-21 games during the current year whereas preparations were in full swing to ensure holding of some of the PSL matches in Peshawar.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2021