Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif presided over a high level meeting, on Thursday which reviewed progress on programs of setting up of e-libraries and construction of new playgrounds especially cricket grounds in the province.
The chief minister accorded approval to constitution of sports steering committee headed by Hanif Abbasi. Addressing the meeting, Shehbaz Sharif said that youth is the bright future of Pakistan and Punjab government has taken revolutionary steps for their empowerment. He said that youth commission has been established in the province and he will preside over its first meeting.
He said that Directorate of Youth Affairs should also be activated at the earliest. He said that cricket and playgrounds are being constructed for the promotion of healthy activities among the youth of the province and work is ongoing on the project of construction of 92 cricket and playgrounds throughout the province including Lahore.
He directed that construction work of cricket and playgrounds should be completed soon and a comprehensive plan should be evolved for providing cricket playing facility in the existing playgrounds. He said that arrangements for playing cricket at night should be made in the schools of the province which have big grounds. He said that floodlight arrangements should be made in newly constructed cricket grounds for holding tournaments at night and survey of the schools be conducted and cricket grounds be identified in this regard.
The chief minister said that setting up of cricket and playgrounds is necessary for motivating the youth towards healthy activities. He said that sports endowment fund has also been established in the province and sports academies will be set up at district and divisional level. He said that e-libraries program will have to be forwarded speedily with innovation.
Ten e-libraries will be established at all costs during the current years, he added. Shehbaz Sharif took strict notice and expressed displeasure over delay in setting up of cricket grounds, playgrounds and e-libraries during last year and directed to constitute an inquiry committee headed by chief minister’s inspection team chairman.
DG Punjab Sports Board gave a briefing regarding progress on the programs.
Provincial Ministers Malik Nadeem Kamran, Mansha Ullah Butt, Jehangir Khanzada, secretary sports and concerned authorities attended the meeting while leader of Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) and former MNA Hanif Abbasi from Rawalpindi and Secretary Communication and Works from Bahawalpur participated in the meeting through video link.
