GUJRANWALA: July 15 ( ): Commissioner Gujranwala Division, Muhammad Ali, has stated that engaging the younger generation in positive sporting activities, promoting a healthy lifestyle, and providing state-of-the-art sports infrastructure are key pillars of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s vision. The promotion of sports not only grooms the physical and mental capabilities of the youth but also fosters constructive and positive social values. He expressed these views while presiding over a high-level review meeting of the Divisional Sports Department. During the session, the Deputy Director Sports, District Sports Officer Muhammad Sajjad, and sports officers from other districts provided a comprehensive briefing on the department’s ongoing projects, available facilities, Annual Development Programme (ADP) schemes, the upgrading of sports grounds, and future strategic plans. The Deputy Director Sports briefed the chair that there are currently 16 ongoing sports schemes active in the Gujranwala Division, for which a total budget of PKR 630.211 million has been allocated. These projects include 9 schemes in District Gujranwala, 4 in Sialkot, 2 in Mandi Bahauddin, and 1 in Narowal. Commissioner Muhammad Ali strictly directed that special attention be paid to underutilized schemes, and immediate, effective measures must be taken to maximize their utility. He emphasized that new projects must be executed within the set timeframe and in accordance with high-quality standards so that the public can benefit from these facilities without any delay. He instructed the divisional and all district sports officers to maintain close coordination and strong liaison with their respective district administrations to ensure the rapid and efficient implementation of all development projects and sports activities. The Commissioner made it clear that no compromise would be tolerated on construction quality and transparency in the ongoing schemes under the ADP, and a robust monitoring system must be maintained at every stage. He further added that the capacity building and professional training of sports department officers and field staff is the need of the hour. In this regard, regular training programs should be organized to equip officers with modern administrative tools, comprehensive planning, and top-tier sports management skills, which will ultimately elevate the overall performance of the department. The meeting concluded with detailed discussions on the overall promotion of sports, encouragement of young talent, and planning for future sports development ventures.
