ISLAMABAD: Saturday was a day without mobile phones as residents of the twin cities spent it outdoors competing in the day-long board games competitions.

The event was arranged by the chief commissioner’s office as it seeks to encourage people to step out and make the best of it.

Retired Captain Mohammad Usman Younis, who is the chief commissioner, while congratulating Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon and his entire team for conducting the event, said the capital administration should continue to hold such events for the mental and physical development of children and adults alike.

“We will arrange similar activities and events on an annual basis,” Mr Younis said at the prize distribution ceremony of the Chief Commissioner Board Games Championship held at Art and Craft Village in Shakarparian.

Parents brought their children to the lawns of the arts and crafts village where tables were set for players to compete for medals, trophies and cash prizes.

According to Dr M. Abdullah Tabassum, the idea to hold the competition was to provide a beautiful natural setting where people could walk, take in the winter sun, but also put their mobile phones down and play board games and indulge in activities that are good for their health.

More than 200 participants from the twin cities participated in the board games championship. In the ludo (junior category), Sahreen won the first prize whereas Jawad came in first in the ludo (senior category).

Atif Muneer secured first place in the carrom board competition and Raja Ehtasham and Salman Khan secured first positions in the junior and senior categories of the chess championships.

Mr Younis distributed cash prizes, gold medals and trophies among the winning players. Earlier, martial arts, football, chess, scrabble, boxing, cycling and now board game tournaments would be part of regular activities in the future, said Dr Tabassum, adding that the capital administration has also planned to arrange hockey, bowling, basketball, women’s volleyball and cricket tournaments. These competitions were necessary to bring out the athlete in citizens besides promoting outdoor games and enthusiasm for sports.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2022