LAHORE: Director General Sports Punjab Javed Chohan on Tuesday said Punjab Stadium would be upgraded for holding the 2023 South Asian Games (SAG) events in a befitting manner.

He said this while chairing an important meeting in connection with South Asian Games 2023 here at the National Hockey Stadium.

The meeting was convened to review the arrangements, particularly venues of the mega event, scheduled to be staged in Pakistan after a gap of 19 years. This would be the third edition of the SAG to be held in Pakistan after the 2004 and 1989 editions.

Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) secretary Mohammad Khalid Mehmood, Punjab Olympic Association secretary Idris Haider Khawaja, Chief Sports Consultant Hafeez Bhatti and other officials attended the meeting.

Different features and other key details of various venues were shown through slides during the meeting.

Addressing the meeting, Javed said Punjab Stadium would be the main venue for organising different disciplines of the South Asian Games.

“The seating capacity of the stadium would be increased so that maximum number of spectators could witness the exciting competitions of the mega event,” he said.

“Besides this, other high-class facilities will also be provided at this venue.”

According to Javed, there were several world-class sports venues in Punjab where international sports events could be staged.

“Definitely it will be a huge honour for Pakistan to host an international sports extravaganza like the South Asian Games and in this regard international level arrangements are being made.”

Speaking on the occasion, POA secretary Khalid said Pakistan had been blessed with immense talent in every sport.

“The holding of the South Asian Games in Pakistan will portray the country’s soft image across the international community,” he remarked.

“Pakistan is a peaceful and sports-loving country where all international sports events can be organised smoothly. Sports culture will further grow in our country after the successful holding of the South Asian Games,” Khalid stated.

Published in Dawn, April 13th, 2022