Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Parvez Elahi met boxer Amir Khan on Tuesday and announced the inaugu-ration of boxing arenas and gyms in Punjab.
Amir Khan visited the CM house and discussed the possi-bility of scholarships for sportsmen. Former federal minister Moonis Elahi was also present.
The chief minister praised Amir Khan’s efforts and victories, saying: “Amir Khan is Pakistan’s pride and bringing laurels to the country.” He added, “Not only cricket but every sport should be promoted and they will provide all possible facilities to promote boxing in Punjab.”
The CM also said the government would grant scholarships to sportsmen out of the Rs2 billion sports endowment fund and it would appoint inter-national coaches for boxing training.
He further said skilled sportsmen would be promoted. On this occasion, Mr Elahi directed the sports minister to make urgent arrangements for having boxing rings in Punjab.
Amir Khan praised CM Elahi’s interest in boxing and other sports as well. He also said: “There is some exceptional talent for boxing in Punjab,” Mr Ishfaq Farooq, provincial adviser Amir Saeed Rawn, Principal Secretary Muhammad Khan Bhatti and others were present.
The CM said that Amir Khan was a pride of Pakistan who was bringing laurels home. It was important to pay attention to every sport, not just cricket, he said.
A sports endowment fund of two billion rupees would be set up to give scholarships to players, he said and added that international coaches would be invited to train local players.
Talented players would be provided ample opportunities to advance their skills and players in remote areas would also be trained, coached and assisted, he maintained. He directed the Secretary Sports to take steps for the establishment of the boxing ring.
Amir Khan said that Chief Minister Parvez Elahi’s interest in sports, especially boxing, was commend-able. Punjab had great boxing talent, he added.
Ashfaq Farooq, Provincial Advisor Aamir Saeed Raan, Principal Secretary to CM Muhammad Khan Bhatti, secretary sports, DG Sports and others were also present.
Earlier CM inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of numerous projects and noted that the provision of 26 billion rupees to improve health facilities is a record.
A Cyberknife machine was being provided to Nishtar Medical University Multan with Rs.1.20 billion. Allied Hospital Faisalabad was provided with 1.25 billion rupees to treat cancer patients with a linear accelerator machine, he noted.
A linear accelerator machine will also be installed for cancer patients in Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Teaching Hospital Gujrat at 1.30 billion rupees, he added.
The CM disclosed that a new cardiology hospital would be built along with the provision of modern machinery in cardiology hospitals in Punjab.
Meanwhile, the Institute of Cardiology Wazirabad was being upgraded with 200 additional beds for five billion rupees. Gamma camera electrophysiology equipment and transit time flowmeter were being provided for heart patients as well.
The land has been acquired for the expansion of the Institute of Cardiology Wazirabad for Rs.385 million, he cited. He said that a pharmacy was being established in PIC Lahore to supply medicines to the patients.
A CT angiography machine and a gamma camera (thallium scan) were being installed in the Institute of Cardiology Lahore at 50 crores. Alongside this, the Chaudhry Anwar Ali Cheema Institute of Cardiology was being established in Sargodha for 6 billion rupees.
CT angiography machine and gamma camera (thallium scan) were being provided at Chaudhry Parvez Elahi Institute of Cardiology in Bahawalpur at a cost of Rs.700 million. Mother and child block of 200 beds was being made functional at Lady Willingdon Hospital Lahore at a cost of Rs.5 billion, he further said.
