KARACHI: Sindh Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Sardar Muhammad Bakhsh Mahar has assured that any encroachments, land-grabbing, or china-cutting on sports fields will not be tolerated.

The minister expressed these views while speaking to the media on the final day of the Youth Gala Festival organised by the sports department.

The three-day Youth Gala Festival featured competitions in badminton, table tennis, snooker, carrom board, taekwondo, and archery. The festival concluded with a musical event attended by a large number of youth and citizens.

Speaking at the event, the minister announced that the Sindh government will transform the Youth Development Center into the Sindh Youth Club and launch programs such as Youth Citizen Journalist, International Exchange, Digital Skill Training, and Youth Emerging Star.

Three-day Youth Festival concludes

He stated that the Sindh Youth Club will include facilities such as a library, e-library, freelancer nest, podcast studio, and other sports-related activities. Additionally, the Sports Department will organise events at the Union Council and district levels.

The minister also highlighted that the Sports Department is providing CSS preparation and computer training to youth. So far, 2,721 young individuals have been trained in various sports, and 2,679 more are currently undergoing training. The department aims to train an additional 4,200 youth in sports-related activities.

Describing the Youth Gala as an opportunity for young people to showcase and develop their talents, Mr Mahar emphasised that the festival enables youth to connect with one another and build networks.

He further revealed that the Sindh Government is preparing to host the National Games in Karachi in February, in collaboration with the Mayor of Karachi. Sports events will also be organised in schools and colleges, he added.

In conclusion, the minister reiterated the Sindh Government’s commitment to ensuring that sports grounds remain accessible to youth through the Sindh Sports Board.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2024