LAHORE: Punjab will construct sports grounds in 1,000 schools across the province and award monthly stipends to 1,000 talented students identified through inter-school competitions, provincial ministers decided in a high-level meeting on Tuesday.
This was revealed by Provincial Sports Minister Faisal Ayub Khokhar here on Wednesday in a meeting, jointly chaired by the Minister and Provincial Minister for Education Rana Sikandar Hayat. They also approved launching a Talent Hunt Program at the grassroots level. Key decisions taken during the meeting included the development of Sports grounds in 1,000 schools. Where space is unavailable, small sports courts will be constructed instead. For the first time in Punjab, sports grounds will also be developed at the Union Council level. Over 1000 high-performing children identified through inter-school competitions will receive monthly stipends. Over 2.5 million children from across Punjab will participate in different phases of the inter-school competitions, according to the sports minister, school grounds will remain open to the general public in the evening hours and the Punjab Sports Board will form its own cricket team.
Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat announced that teaching interns will be provided to 1,000 schools, with special interns deployed exclusively for sports promotion. “Women and girls will be provided equal facilities in sports,” Hayat said, adding that indoor sports facilities for girls will be ensured. To monitor progress, a joint meeting under the “Khelte School” initiative will be held in the first week of every month, co-chaired by both ministers.
