Punjab sports minister Malik Taimoor Masood Monday said a state-of-the-art cricket stadium is being built at Bhurban in Murree in the coming months.

Addressing a press conference in Rawalpindi, the minister said plans are afoot to improve sports facilities across the province.

He said the sports festival is being kicked off in Potohar region today wherein around five thousand athletes from the Rawalpindi division will participate.

The sports minister said the ruling party in Punjab believes in reviving sports activities for public good.

In this regard, he said, games were organised in Lahore in which athletes from all over the province participated.

“Astroturf is being installed at various playfields across the province for promoting hockey. Sports Board Academies have been established across Punjab and international-level training will be provided to the players through endowment fund,” he maintained.

Stipends will be given to the players from this fund while the Punjab government will also promote ports at local level.

Wrestling and Javelin Throw will also be part of the Potohar sports festival, he said, adding that local wrestling rings are also being improved.

“All expenses of Potohar Sports Festival are being paid by Punjab Sports Board. PCB previously worked on talent hunt at regional level.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2022.