Punjab to have first ‘Sports City’ next year: Maryam

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday announced the launch of the province’s first Sports City in 2027, and declared that Pink Games will be expanded to the tehsil level across Punjab.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony of Khelta Punjab Pink Games 2026 at Punjab Stadium, Nishtar Park Sports Complex, the chief minister announced Rs20 million in prize money for Pink Games athletes and directed authorities to ensure special arrangements for the care, accommodation and meals of women players.

She termed female athletes the “Super Daughters of Super Punjab” and appreciated Minister for Sports Faisal Khokhar, secretary sports, DG sports and the entire team for successfully organising the event. Maryam Nawaz said women are capable of leading a country, a province and ministries. “A woman can fight a war, fly an aircraft and serve as chief minister — and can give men tough competition,” she remarked. She emphasised that merit and talent have no gender.

Encouraging young girls, she says, “The land is yours, the sky is yours — move forward and prove yourselves.” She added that women are excelling in every field, including boxing, cricket, football, swimming and athletics, and are working shoulder-to-shoulder with men while also fulfilling responsibilities at home.

More than 3,000 athletes from across Punjab will participate in the Pink Games after qualifying at the tehsil level. The chief minister announced that the games will further be expanded to the union council level in the future.

She stated that the government was taking practical steps to revive sports grounds and promote healthy activities among the youth, moving children away from mobile screens and into playing fields. She added that Punjab has immense talent and that construction work on the Sports City would begin this year.

Declaring 2026 as the “Year of Youth,” the chief minister said providing opportunities of happiness and progress to the people of Punjab was her responsibility.

She urged young girls not to lose heart in difficult times, adding that women should not be considered weak, but strong and resilient.

Meanwhile, the Punjab government has provided the Frontier Corps (FC) Balochistan with modern safety and security equipment worth Rs10 billion to strengthen its counterterrorism capacity.