KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that the Sport and Education are means to elevate educational and health standards, promote development and peace.
“The Sports and education are part and parcel and connect people of various cultures, that’s why the United Nation recognized Sports as an enabler for Sustainable Development.”
This he said on Tuesday while speaking at celebrations of the arrival of the Queen’s Baton of the Commonwealth Games in Pakistan at Mazar-e-Quaid. Those who attended the ceremony include Muhammad Khalid Mahmood Secretary General of CGA Pakistan, Karachi’s administration, Mr. M. Iqbal Memon, Commissioner Karachi, Dr. Junaid Ali Shah Chairman Sindh Olympic Association, Arbab Lutufullah Special Assistant to CM for Sports and Mr. Akhtar Inayat Bhurgri.
The CM said that the Baton carried the message of International Cooperation and understanding for peace and prosperity. “As a tradition, the Baton of Commonwealth Games carries a good will message from the Queen and the Citizens of UK,” he said and thanked them all for their best wishes for international peace and cooperation.
“I truly believe that the sports, the arts and physical activities have the power to change perceptions, prejudices and behaviours, as well as to inspire people, break down racial and political barriers, combat discrimination and defuse conflicts,” Mr Shah said and went on saying the sports was beyond any kind of politics and that was why it [sports] must be widely utilized for educating the youth and inculcate in them the highest ethical standards.
Murad Ali Shah said that we understood that the Sport and Education were meant to elevate educational and health standards, promote development and peace. “The Sports and education are part and parcel and connect people of various cultures – that’s why the United Nation recognized Sports as an enabler for Sustainable Development,” he said and added “we acknowledge the contribution of sport in promoting tolerance and respect and empowering women and young people, individuals and communities.”
It may be noted that the Commonwealth Games – 2022 will be held from 28th July 2022 to 8th August 2022 at Birmingham, UK. The CM extended his best wishes for the Pakistani athletes who would participate in the Games.
Mr Shah thanked the Organizing Committee for choosing Karachi to celebrate the Relay this time. “I would like to congratulate the citizens of Sindh Province and especially of Karachi to be honored to have this Baton amongst us all,” he said.
He said that the Baton would travel through the Karachi and meet maximum spectators around Karachi Division, for which he expected that the QBR Officials as well as our Athletes, Sports lovers and General Public would demonstrate themselves as a disciplined society so that a soft image of our Country could be passed on to the Commonwealth Countries as well as the entire World.
On the occasion Lt. Gen (r) Syed Arif Hassan HI (M) President CGA Pakistan spoke and thanked the chief minister for supporting CGA and promoting sports activities in the province.
