PM for expanding facilities to hold international sports events

ISLAMABAD—Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said Sunday the government would help increase sports facilities in the country for holding more international competitions.
“International sports competitions enhance harmony and build bridges among cultures and civilisations”, the Prime Minister said while speaking at the prize-distribution ceremony of 46th National Amateur Golf Championship in which players from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Malaysia also participated.
He called upon federations to expand infrastructure for international competitions, noting that Pakistan Golf Federation was already building another golf club in the Federal Capital.
Shaukat announced Rs. two million for PGF and Rs. one million for Islamabad Golf Club which hosted the four-day championship. Pakistani players distinguished themselves in this championship as they won the five-nation international team event and also bilateral Jayeweredene Trophy against Sri Lanka before Tariq Mehmood of Pakistan Navy won the individual event on the last day Sunday. The Prime Minister noted that golf had become one of the most popular spectator sports in the world and as such it should be popularised in this country also.
He said a bit of luck was required, just as in other walks of life, for success in golf. He said he himself played golf here and quoted an instance when he performed feat of “hole in one” due to sheer luck. “I hit the shot at the 16th holes. I thought it was going into the rough but the ball struck a tree luckily and went into the hole”, he said. He said he had been to such world-class golf courses as Augusta in USA and noted that designs of courses were changing everywhere.
He said Golf was also a humbling game in which one learns from one’s mistakes. “One learns to tackle problems with determination as they come one’s way much like the present government which was rapidly developing the country by tackling various problems”. The Prime Minister was delighted that players from 40 countries had competed in the last edition of Pakistan Open golf tournament at Karachi and hoped that more foreign players would participate in the next edition.
“I am very happy that the prize money of Pakistan Open golf tournament has been increased from US $ 200,000 to US $ 250,000”, he said while emphasising the need for more and more corporate sponsorship of sports competitions.
Later, special souvenirs were presented to the Prime Minister who gave away prizes in various categories. The PGF Secretary and seasoned amateur golfer Taimur Hassan, presenting the address of welcome, said that PGF had launched a junior coaching programme under which selected 50 players from around the country were being given Rs. 5,000 each monthly for golf-cum-education.
Also present at the prize-distribution ceremony was Sheheryar Ahmed, the President of Askari Bank which sponsored the championship.

—Online