ISLAMABAD, April 17: The government has reserved five percent sports quota for admissions to all educational institutions in order to promote sports at the school level, said federal minister for education Javed Ashraf Qazi here on Tuesday.

He said the decision would be implemented from the new academic year starting from September. He was speaking at the concluding ceremony of the second Pakistan Day Cycle Race held under the auspices of the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE).

He said sports activities had been made part and parcel of the new scheme of studies and every school shall be having a physical instructor to prepare a sports team. He said efforts would be made to ensure implementation of these measures in all educational institutions of the country.

He also stressed the need for taking more steps to promote spirit of patriotism among the students. He suggested that every student should wear a badge of the national flag. The minister awarded cycles to the three position holders among the 150 participants who covered over a seven km distance.

He also announced Rs100,000 for girls who chanted full-throated slogans of “Pakistan Zindabad” and Rs20,000 for girl students who presented a national song. Later, talking to mediapersons, the minister said registration date for the private institutions in the capital would not be extended further.

In reply to a question, he said if these institutions failed to get themselves registered with the regulatory authority, the only two options would be either to cancel their affiliation with the board or shut them down.—Agencies