KARACHI, Dec 23: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad said on Thursday that all the sporting legends of the province would be honoured and given their due status.

"Sports persons are great ambassadors of the country, who bring fame and glory to the nation," the Governor said at reception hosted in his honour to pay tributes to him for his services for promotion and uplift of sports in the province.

The reception was jointly hosted by 16 sports associations, which was held under the auspices of Cricketers Guild of Pakistan. The representatives of all the sports associations presented gold medals to Sindh Governor for his contribution for promotion of sports in the province.

He said that Sindh Government was preparing and chalking out plans to honour artists and sports persons and other legends for their contribution in their respective fields. Dr Ibad said an endowment fund was being created to patronize those persons who have served the country.

He said pace of sports activities in the city and the province was getting faster as there was much more normalcy in the city from the law and order point of view. He said Sindh government was taking all the measures to promote sports.

Dr Ibad said he will consider and examine all the suggestions given by the speakers. On the occasion Sindh Governor announced Rs 100,000 each for the all association for promotion of sports in the province.

He also announced a gold medal for footballer Abdul Aziz Baloch, who scored the match winning goal for Pakistan in SAF Games football final against India. Sindh Governor said Peoples Sports Complex was being renovated and DG Rangers Maj. Gen. Javed Zia was personally supervising the work at the stadium.

He said having played cricket, hockey and judo/karate, he had always liked and enjoyed the company of sportsmen. Dr Ibad said he was delighted to be among the sports persons.

He said it was nice to see that officials of 16 sports associations, who were usually normally divided, are under single roof and it proves the saying "United we stand" as true. Governor's Adviser for Sports Dr Muhammad Ali Shah announced Rs 500,000 for installing the towers at KCCA Stadium. -APP