LAHORE, April 4: Punjab has decided not to reduce strength of its contingent which will participate in the 30th National Games, starting in Karachi from Monday. Punjab Olympic Association (POA) secretary Khawaja Idrees said on Wednesday that the hosts had requested them to decrease the strength of the squad as they had been facing some logistic problems but the POA have decided not to do so as the hosts would hopefully solve the problem.

The Punjab had named a heavy contingent of 526 persons, including 96 officials and 306 male and 124 female sportspersons to take part in 23 men and 15 women disciplines.

Punjab Sports Board director-general Brig Farook Yaqoob, who is also the deputy Chef de Mission of the contingent, said gold, silver and bronze medallists would be honoured with Rs10,000, Rs5,000 and Rs3,000 respectively.

The contingent will depart for Karachi on Saturday.