« Roadside Bomb Wounds Pakistan Candidate | Home | Ongoing power generation projects to help meet electricity shortage: President »

Prime Minister performs inauguration of sports complex

By admin | February 13, 2008

KARACHI: Caretaker Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro Wednesday performed the formal inauguration of the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) Sports Complex in Clifton here. Sports greats including Jehangir Khan, Hassan Sardar, Hanif Khan, Iqbal Qasim, Salahuddin Sullu also attended the ceremony.

Sindh Governor, Dr. Ishrat-ul- Ebad Khan, provincial ministers and Governor of State Bank of Pakistan, Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, were also present.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister pointed out that there was a time when organisations including those of the government such as PIA, Customs, Railways, Police etc used to patronise various sports but over a period of time owing to financial constraints they almost abandoned this.

The Prime Minister said he was glad that the NBP took the initiative and hoped that other corporate organisations would emulate it in an organised manner and keep it going in a systematic manner as the NBP is doing.

He further stated that this was a service to the community and that one has to sponsor the available talent.

Soomro said he was happy to see that there was a nursery of cricket here and that squash facility was also made available.

He stated that the whole NBP Sports Complex was very well planned and deserved compliments for the architecture and for making optimum use of the available space.

The Caretaker Prime Minister also appreciated Sindh Governor, Dr. Ishrat-ul- Ebad Khan, for taking personal interest in the project.

The Prime Minister said the sport activities should be encouraged because the thrust of the government is on preventive healthcare.

He was of the view that it is economical to facilitate the preventive rather than the curative side. Health and sports facilities are part of this because healthy and active minds and bodies are less susceptible to ailments.

Mohammedmian Soomro also referred to the talent that is available in the country in the realms especially of sports.

He was of the view that adherence to international standards certainly is more meaningful.

The Prime Minister said it is a good gesture of making available this sports complex facility to the other people on membership basis.

He said he was pleased to learn that recycled water would be used for gardening of this complex as it is in line with our policy to conserve water.

Soomro said the realisation to support the community is a very good trend and is required.

He said the government resources for looking after the community are limited and the philanthropists and the corporate sector should step in to fill in the gap.

The Prime Minister appreciated the offer by NBP to help develop sports facilities in various cities.

Earlier, he performed the inauguration of the NBP Sports Complex and saw the facilities.

Earlier, in his welcome address the President of NBP, Syed Ali Raza, pointed out that this sports complex comprises a cricket ground, a cricket pavilion, a cricket academy and a multi-games sports complex.

He said the international standard squash courts, indoor tennis, badminton, covered swimming pool, snooker, table tennis and a well equipped health club are all available in this sports complex.

Ali Raza said the idea of this sports complex was initiated by Prime Minister Soomro when he was the president of NBP.

“I took forward the mission of Mr Mohammadmian Soomro and am proud to declare that today this dream has become a reality”, he further remarked.

The NBP chief was of the view that the sports wing of his Bank was the most organised one in the country.

He said the NBP sponsors sports in all parts of the country and provides jobs to sportsmen and helps them earn an honourable living.

Syed Ali Raza said that to tap the talent, the NBP has been organising coaching camps for crickets, hockey and football in various parts of the country at the grassroots level.

He pointed out that the NBP Cricket Academy is run by its experienced players for boys of all ages.

The NBP chief announced that the Bank plans to develop similar facilities in other cities of the country.

Currently it is negotiating with the city governments of Sukkur and Peshawar to aquire suitable land for this purpose.

Topics: Sports |