LAHORE - The Sports Writers Association of Punjab (SWAP) has organised the World Sports Journalists Day in collaboration with Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) in a colorful ceremony held here at a local hotel in which was attended by a good number of sports journalists.
The ceremony was graced by PFF secretary Col (R) Ahmad Yar Khan Lodhi, PFA president Sardar Naveed Haider Khan, LDFA president Mian Rizwan, PSWF president Shahid Shaikh, vice president Sohail Ali, joint secretary Shahzad Malik, SJAL president Syed Ali Hashmi, secretary Ch Ashraf, senior journalists Qayyum Zahid, Sarfraz Ahmad, Asher Butt, Azhar Masood, M Fawad, Sultan Shah, Musa Warraich, Ijaz Sheikh, Rana Azar Noor, Waseem Ahmad, Afzal Iftikhar, Abdul Qayyum, Taqveem Shah, Afzaal Ch, Rafiq Khan, M Babur, Hafiz Shahbaz, Shahbaz Khokhar and others.
Speaking on the occasion, SJAL president Syed Ali Hashmi said: “Through hard work and sincere efforts, the sports journalists show the sports coverage to the masses even if they don’t reach the spot to witness the events.”
PSWF president Shahid Shaikh described in detail the importance of Sports Journalists Day and the reasons behind its celebration. PSWF vice president Sohail Ali said: “Sports journalism is in our blood and soul. The responsibility of sports journalists is not just to cover the sports events but also highlight the issues being faced by players, organizers and also to show mirror to the sports organizers what they have been doing and what they must do for promotion of sports.”
PFF secretary Col (R) Lodhi said: “It is a good step to celebrate sports journalists’ day. It is journalists who show the sports events to sports lovers and fans and play their key role in promoting sports across the country.”
PFA president Sardar Naveed said: “The sports journalists not only cover the sports events but also show the mirror to the sports organizers what right or wrong they have been doing. It helps the organizers in overcoming their flaws and improving their work.”