Prime Minister directs sports federations to come out of politics to win medals in next Olympics

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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi while addressing the closing ceremony of the Second Quaid-e-Azam Inter Provincial Games held in Islamabad on Friday directed the sports federations to come out of politics and strive for helping Pakistan win medals in next Olympics.

“It is matter of shame when the world sees the world’s fifth largest country not winning any medal in the Olympics,” the prime minister said.

The ceremony was also attended by Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Riaz Hussain Pirzada, Minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) Abdul Qadir Baloch and top officials of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB).

The prime minister congratulated the medal winner and said that besides winning the medals, their real achievement is that they represented their respective provinces by taking part in the event.

He added that the athletes must examine the existing standards of the games in the world and should struggle to meet those standards.

“It is pleasing that such mega sports events are being held in the country,” said Abbasi while commenting on the improved security situation in the country and added that, “It is the collective efforts of the army, government, police and the nation that has made the organisation of such activities possible not only in Islamabad but in Baluchistan and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) as well.”

The prime minster congratulated the sports ministry and the sports board on the successful oraganisation of the event and hoped that they would make these games a permanent feature to provide opportunities to athletes to exhibit their expertise.

He stressed that the government is trying to promote sports culture besides improving infrastructure and facilities and informed that the proposal for Pakistan’s first sports university has been approved and it will be established soon.

During the event, athletes from across the country won 574 medals in total. The Punjab contingent stood first by clinching 74 gold medals, followed by Baluchistan with 26 gold medals and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 21 gold medals.

In total Punjab won 151 medals (74 gold, 46 silver and 31 bronze), Baluchistan won 86 medals (26 gold, 22 silver and 38 bronze), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa won 94 medals (21 gold, 24 silver and 49 bronze), Sindh won 89 medals (20 gold, 26 silver and 43 bronze), FATA won 42 medals (seven gold, 13 silver and 22 bronze), Islamabad won 62 medals (six gold, 15 silver and 41 bronze), Gilgit Baltistan won 27 medals (four gold, seven silver and 16 bronze) while the Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s contingent won 23 medals (one gold, five silver and 17 bronze).