ISLAMABAD: As many as 5000 students will be seen in action in various sports contests, including athletic events, in the three-day Girls Sports Carnival that will take place from October 17 to 19 at the Pakistan Sports Complex.

This was announced by the Ministry of Federal Education on Sunday.

Speaking to Dawn, Secretary Education Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani said that the carnival aims to promote sports among girls and provide a platform for them to showcase their talents.

He said that besides other events, girl students will also participate in amateur javelin throw contests as after winning gold by Arshad Nadeem in the Paris Olympic, the game has become a hot topic in Pakistan.

The secretary said that students will participate in individual and team events.

He said that the education ministry, Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) and Inter-Board Chairmen Commission (IBCC) will organise this event.

Mr Wani said 80pc of students in Islamabad will be seen in action in this event while a token participation of 20pc will be from provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

“Through this event, we want to promote sports among girls and encourage them to participate in physical activities. We also want to provide a platform for girls to showcase their talents and skills and to foster a sense of competition and teamwork among participants,” he said and added that the event will also promote national unity.

Meanwhile, a press release said that the event will be held in Islamabad with top-notch facilities and infrastructure in place. The event included track and field (including javelin throw), basketball, football, volleyball, table tennis, badminton and tennis.

Every year, FBISE organises sport events for which students deposit a fee along with the fee for SSC exams. However, this time, the education ministry in collaboration with IBCC and provinces is holding the event.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2024