GUJRAT: A sum of Rs1.3 billion will be spent on the sports-related projects across Gujranwala region under the Punjab chief minister’s initiative of “Khelta Punjab”, whereas at least 114,000 youths have so far registered themselves for participation in sports activities in the province.

This was announced by Punjab Minister for Sports, Labour and Human Resource Faisal Ayub Khokhar at a ceremony attended by business fraternity at the Gujranwala Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on Thursday.

PML-N’s Gujranwala MNA Shahid Usman Ibrahim, MPA Umar Farooq Dar and GCCI President Rana Muhammad Siddique were also present.

The minister said that of the total funds, a sum of Rs500 million has been allocated for the

sports projects in Gujranwala district, while around 9,000 youth had been registered for the sports activities in the region.

Moreover, he said, the Punjab government had allocated Rs280 million for holding sports competitions across the province, for which the registration of youths had been made.

He also announced that the sports grounds of the government schools in Punjab would now remain open after the school timings for the youth’s sports activities.

The internationally famous wrestler from Gujranwala, Nooh Dastgir Butt, who has recently won medals at the Commonwealth Games, raised several issues regarding the federal government’s sports department during the ceremony.

The minister assured him of taking up those issues with Rana Mashhood Khan, Advisor to Prime Minister on Sports and Youth Affairs.

Mr Khokhar said Rs6 billion pending funds meat for marriage and death grants to the labourers had been released by the provincial government, while labourers’ claims in this regard were also being cleared by the department concerned.

However, he said the process of registration or filing applications for the issuance of marriage and death grants had been made online and no cheque for the grant would be issued on manual applications in the future.

He said the business fraternity should be taken on board in all the matters related to them, and directed the authorities concerned to open a social security department desk in the GCCI building.

Published in Dawn, October 25th, 2024