TAXILA: Minister for Social Welfare and Baitul Mal Syed Yawar Abbas Bukhari on said that five mega sports facilities would be set up in Attock during the current fiscal year for promotion of sports and provision of better recreational facilities to youth of the district.

He expressed these views during inspection of the site of the proposed sports stadium in Dhoke Fateh on Tuesday.

Talking to journalists, he said the stadium would be constructed with an allocation of Rs60 million over 70 kanals. A walking track and a pavilion besides a dressing room for players would be built in the stadium whereas in the next fiscal year, floodlights will also be installed around it.

Under the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the fiscal year 2020-21, four mega multi-million sports projects would be completed in the district which include hockey and cricket stadiums in Attock city at an estimated cost of Rs131.3 million, development of a football ground in Pindigheb which will cost about Rs32.4 million, a cricket ground with floodlights at Shaheed Shuja Khanzada Degree College, Hazro which will cost Rs74.7 million and a cricket ground at Kot Chhaji village at an estimated cost of Rs74.75 million.

Says Punjab govt pursuing comprehensive programme to promote sports

Millions of rupees have already been spent on renovation of a hockey stadium in the city and this stadium, he said, would help promote the national game at the district level. Efforts are also being made to establish a football ground, he added.

The minister said the Punjab government was pursuing a comprehensive programme for promotion of sports which was why grounds were being established all over the province.

Sports plays an important role in polishing the youth and public representatives of the area were taking all possible steps for its promotion, Mr Bukhari said, announcing that a similar stadium would be built in Shakardara area to facilitate youth.

Published in Dawn, January 5th, 2022