PESHAWAR
The provincial minister for health and finance said on Monday that sports is a vital enabler of sustainable development and it also plays a vital contribution for lasting peace in the society and successful diplomacy among nations.
Taimur Saleem Jhagra said “sports and peace are inseparable; the promotion of sports in any society is a sign of peace”.
He expressed these views while addressing the Peace and Sports International Conference held in Peshawar.
The conference was organized by Pakistan Sports Writers Federation, Tourism and Culture Authority KP, Directorate of Sports and Bank of Khyber.
The event was attended by more than 200 delegates from nine countries.
The book of Pakistan Sports Rights Association President Amjad Aziz Malik was also launched in the event. The book titled FIFA World Cup in the Desert is the first book published on the World Cup from Asia.
In his address to the conference, Taimur Jhagra said that for the last ten years, bilateral sports could not be held between Pakistan and India, due to which the political relations were deteriorating day by day.
“It is our proud moment that for the first time the Football World Cup is being held in the Muslim world,” he added and said that special attention should be given to football as a sport in Pakistan.
The health minister said that more and more athletes should be encouraged to participate in the Olympics games at the country level.
At present, seven players from Pakhtunkhwa are playing in the national cricket team and are making the name of the province and the country bright.
We have done our best in hockey and squash, now we have to pay attention to other sports as well.
Welcoming the delegates from other countries, he said that hosting such conferences is a matter of pride for KP.
The provincial government is trying day and night to provide all kinds of sports opportunities and promote peace in the province, he added.
