LAKKI MARWAT: The two-day traditional games festival began in remote Kakkakhel village here on Thursday.

Senior archer Haqdad Khan along with provincial deputy director sports Jamshed Khan Baloch and chief provincial coach Shafqatullah Khan inaugurated the archery competition at an eye-catching ceremony.

District sports officer Ismail Khan Wazir, ADEO sports Nisar Mohammad Khan, ASDEO Rustam Khan, local elders and a large number of game lovers were present on the occasion.

The elderly chief guest shot an arrow in the air to formally inaugurate the traditional festival of Lakki Marwat.

Ten archery clubs from different areas of the district participated in the first round of competition.

The officials of sports department said on the occasion that traditional games were played in all districts.

They said that sports department made arrangements for holding district level competitions in the first phase.

They said that later on the games would be held at regional level and then the players of traditional games would be invited to Peshawar.

They stressed the need for providing healthy entertainment and opportunities of physical exercise to youth.

They said that government had chalked out a comprehensive strategy to revive traditional games.

SCHEMES: Bannu Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zubair Niazi has asked communication and works department to expedite work on the under-construction projects of a park, seminary and mosque in Bannu city.

He issued the directives during inspection of uplift projects on Thursday. An official told the deputy commissioner that the park, seminary and mosque were being built under provincial government’s uplift and beautification programme on the land, which was specified for a cattle market in the past.

“Now the cattle market has been shifted to the outskirts city. Locals will benefit from the beautification projects,” he said.

Mr Zubair said that establishment of the park would provide recreation and entertainment opportunities to local people, especially youth and children. He directed the officials concerned to ensure early completion of the seminary and mosque projects.

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2022