LAHORE - Punjab Minister for Sports and Education Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan has said that master plan has been completed for sports city and sports university.
“The construction work on the grand project will start in near future,” said Mashhood while talking to the reporters during the visit of Netherlands Embassy delegation to National Hockey Stadium (NHS) Wednesday. Karel Hartogh, Charge d’Affairs, led the Netherlands Embassy delegation.
Earlier, the sports minister along with Sports Board Punjab (SBP) Director General Usman Anwar received the guests. The delegation also visited various departments at the hockey stadium including Radio Shine, Social Media and CCTV Camera Control Room during their visit. The SBP DG briefed the delegation about the functioning and major features of Radio Shine, Social Media and CCTV Camera Control Room.
Hartogh also gave answers to a few questions during a brief interview at Radio Shine. The Dutch Embassy delegation also inspected the astro-turfs at National and Johor Hockey Stadiums. They were also shown a video documentary regarding holding of Punjab Youth Festival, Guinness World Records, International Sports Festival and other major features of the SBP. After watching documentary, the Dutch Embassy official expressed his wish to be part of such gigantic events in future.
Karel Hartogh said Pakistan had bright future in international sports. “The holding of Punjab Youth Festival editions is a remarkable achievement on the part of Sports Board Punjab. Pakistan athletes established dozens of Guinness World Record which is a great feat,” he added while praising the efforts of the SBP. Hartogh also expressed his satisfaction on the security situation in Pakistan.
Mashhood said Pakistan was fighting a war against terrorism. “We expect cooperation from other countries in this regard. We have fulfilled the promise of revival of international cricket. International hockey will also be revived in near future,” he said and added: “It’s our great desire to have cordial relations in multiple fields with Holland who have respectable status in international hockey”.
The DG said the Sports Board Punjab (SBP) had several joint ventures in the past with several countries and international sports organisations. “We also want to begin such partnerships with Netherlands which will definitely be helpful in the revival hall of international sports in Pakistan,” he added.