LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that provincial government is constructing sports grounds by retrieving government lands from Qabza Groups (Land Grabbers) thus enabling the youth to take over country's reign in future as a confident and bold leadership.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of Mian Mir Sports Complex at Basti Saidan Shah, Upper Mall here Sunday, he said that in the past, Musharraf patronized the qabza groups but PML-N is returning a prosperous Pakistan to the youth by eliminating negative cultures forever. "If the provision of sports opportunities to the youth is a crime, then he will commit this crime repeatedly as youth are the precious asset of the country," he added.
He said that sports culture has been promoted in the province and modern facilities of sports are being provided to the youth by retrieving the government land from grabbers so that healthy activities could be promoted, adding that indiscriminate action is being taken against Qabza groups, who tried to construct plazas and petrol pump on government land opposite Allama Iqbal International Airport but the government foiled their bid.
The Chief Minister said that a network of sports grounds is being laid from Attock to Rahim Yar Khan so that millions of youth could win the laurels for the country at international level by benefiting from modern sports facilities.
He said Lahore is heart of Pakistan and horticulture has been promoted on modern lines in all big cities of Punjab, citing, the beautiful flowers and plants have enhanced the natural beauty of these cities.
Shahabaz said Punjab government is providing maximum facilities of sports through sponsors and its own resources, therefore, well-to-do people and welfare organizations should take active part in the collective welfare projects as a social responsibility. "The youth is being made independent and they will learn modern knowledge from free laptop facility through which Pakistan will be strengthened," he maintained.
On this occasion, Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Rana Mashhood Ahmad highlighted the projects of promotion of sports and completion of sports grounds and sports complexes through public-private partnership in the province. He said the construction of Mian Mir Sports Complex is a shining example of public-private partnership and facilities of international standard have been provided in this complex.
President of a local welfare organization which collaborated in the construction of Mian Mir Sports Complex, Col.(R) Kamal-Ud-Din in his address said the squash court, gymnasium, basketball court and walkway of international standard have been constructed in this complex.
Earlier, the Chief Minister formally inaugurated the sports complex and played exhibitory shots of squash and basketball. (APP)