ISLAMABAD: Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Friday that the government was making strenuous efforts for the revival of sports, films, music and heritage in the country. She said that the government was also striving to build sports infrastructure and academies to promote and revive sports, by carrying forward the vision of former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
Speaking as a chief guest at the conference of International Sports Press Association (AIPS), she said that the return of peace through collective efforts of the nation had produced congenial atmosphere for the revival of international sports activities in Pakistan.
Aurangzeb reiterated that Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was carrying forward the baton to ensure uninterrupted revival and promotion of films, music, heritage and sports with the theme, ‘I feel proud to be a citizen of Pakistan’.
Aurangzeb observed that Pakistan had a very rich culture and sports were an integral part of it. She said that Pakistanis were a proud and brave nation that had fought terrorism for the last 35 years with an unyielding determination and solidarity. She also praised the media’s role in the fight against terrorism.
The minister said that Pakistan overcame terrorism with the efforts of the federal and provincial government by implementing National Internal Security Policy and National Action Plan, in line with the vision of the former Prime Minister Sharif.
She admitted that though peace had returned to Pakistan, there was a lot of work still to be done. Aurangzeb pointed out that the provincial governments were also investing heavily in sports infrastructure and to develop new playgrounds. She informed the audience that under the Prime Minister’s Education Reforms Programme, sports facilities at 422 schools and colleges of Islamabad were being upgraded and it had been made incumbent upon the educational institutions to provide grounds and sports facilities to the students.
Published in Daily Times, October 7th 2017.
