LAHORE, July 14: The Punjab Revenue Department has agreed to allocate a suitable piece of land to the Athletics Federation of Pakistan to build an academy.

AFP secretary Khalid Mahmood told Dawn on Saturday that the land would be given at the site of Nishter Sports Complex, Lahore.

"After the marking of the land in the complex, the federation will start its construction," he said.

The secretary said the federation wanted to start the construction as soon as the 10th South Asian Games in Sri Lanka concludes.

He said a comprehensive programme to run the academy had already been finalised.

The academy would start a four-year course for boys in the first phase and for girls in the second.

"Talented athletes will be picked from across the country for training where they will also get a chance to continue their studies from class IX to Intermediate free of cost," he maintained.

The secretary said the federal government would give a grant of Rs200 million to the academy.