LAHORE: Punjab Youth Affairs and Sports Secretary Muzaffar Khan Sial has ordered scholarships for top performers in Khelta Punjab games from Sports Endowment Fund (SEF).

He issued this direction while presiding over a meeting held at the Punjab Stadium on Wednesday.

Youth Affairs and Sports Punjab Director General Khizar Afzaal, Additional Secretary Sports Mian Usman Ali, Director Admin Dr M Kaleem, Director Sports Rana Nadeem Anjum, Deputy Secretary Finance Rafia Qayyum, Haroon Zafar from Pension Fund and other officials participated in the meeting.

During the meeting, Khizar Afzaal gave a detailed briefing on different features of SEF.

Addressing the meeting, Sial said the Rs2 billion SEF is being spent on the welfare of talented athletes. “Sufficient scholarships are being given to the top performing players of the Inter-Provincial Quaid-e-Azam Games from SEF.”

He said that several talented players have emerged from the platform of Khelta Punjab and Quaid-e-Azam games. “SEF is being utilised on the development of sports culture and welfare of players from across the province”.

He said that talented athletes are being given monthly scholarships in three categories. “Rs70,000 in the Platinum category, Rs50,000 in the Gold, while Rs30,000 are being given in the Silver category”.

The sports secretary said Punjab has been blessed with plenty of talents in sports. “Punjab sports department will field highly talented players in the upcoming 35th National Games and we are quite hopeful that our athletes will emerge winners in the mega event”.

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2025