- Chairs meeting of parliamentary representatives to discuss FATA reforms
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Thursday said that the corporate sponsors should come up to help revive Pakistan’s lost grandeur in sports by extending their resources to cap the talent of youth.
Addressing the prize distribution ceremony for the winners and participants of the recently held Commonwealth Games 2018 at Prime Minister’s Office, he praised the winners for bringing laurels to the country despite meagre support by the government.
The ceremony was attended by Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Riaz Hussain Pirzada, Minister for Defence Khurram Dastgir, Minister for Law Mehmood Bashir Virk, Minister for SAFRON Lt General (r) Abdul Qadir Baloch and representatives of different Olympic associations and players.
The prime minister said that all that they had achieved was because of their personal efforts. “After a long time, someone had won medals for Pakistan,” he added.
The prime minister appreciated the efforts of Riaz Hussain Pirzada who had helped revive sports in Pakistan, though the subject had been devolved to provinces after 18th constitutional amendment. He added that the provision of further resources by the federal government to improve sports activities was vital.
There is no dearth of talent in Pakistan but it needs to be nurtured, he added.
Later, he also handed over a cheque worth Rs5 million to wrestler Inam Butt who won the gold medal and Rs1 million to Tayyab Raza who secured a bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games. He also gave away prizes to other sportsmen who excelled in the competitions.
Riaz Pirzada also gave a souvenir and colours of Pakistan to the prime minister, who also had a group photo with the players. He added that the Pakistani players had bagged 10 medals in the Commonwealth Games besides achieving distinctions in other international games in the recent past.
Separately, PM Abbasi chaired a meeting of parliamentary leaders and representatives of various political parties held here at PM’s Chamber in the National Assembly in which matters relating to the implementation of FATA reforms were discussed.
The meeting was attended by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Fazalur Rehman, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and Leader of Opposition Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah among others.
