THERE was a time when there used to be playgrounds even in major cities and they used to be full of young people having sporting fun. People would challenge each other in different sports and engage in healthy competitions. But those times are now gone.

First the playgrounds vanished as they were replaced by tall plazas and malls. And then disappeared the people who loved outdoor sports.

The healthy activities have been replaced by video games on desktop computers, laptops, mobiles phones and gaming consoles.

Unfortunately, our youth does not spend as much time as it should on playing outdoor games. It prefers to stay inside which, in turn, causes serious health issues, which is evident by the increasing prevalence of harmful diseases among the youth.

Outdoor games do not only freshen up one’s mind, but they also keep one physically healthy. We should encourage our children to participate more in outdoor games and activities than spending time playing video games.

Ali Hassan Noonari
Sukkur

Published in Dawn, May 12th, 2021