National Games start from Dec 25 in Peshawar

Provincial Minister for Sports Syed Aqil Shah has said that 31st National Games are scheduled to begin from December 25.
Despite recent destructions due to heavy floods in the province, the Provincial Government was ready to hold the 31st National Games in Peshawar, commence from December 25-31, he said while addressing a press conference.
Syed Aqil Shah, who also holds the portfolio of the President of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Olympic Association, said that the National Games were postponed twice due to the bad security situation in the province, but this time all was set to organise this major sports gala at all cost.
He said that as compared to previous months, today the security situation was much improved and they were hopeful that it would get better further. He questioned that could they give the security guarantee in other parts of the country, who wanted to shift the games from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said that Chief Minister would monitor the security of national games.
We were busy in finalising all the arrangements for the event, as the provincial government was keen to hold the games in befitting manner, he remarked saying there was no financial constraints as enough funds were sanctioned for holding this event.
Prior to this sports event, the National Games officials of Pakistan Olympic Association would be formally invited to visit Peshawar and assess the security arrangements, he informed. Regarding the meeting of the Olympic Association that was held before the press conference, he said that the Association awarded affiliation to boxing, basel ball, kabadi and weightlifting associations of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while the hockey association would soon get the same status.
For the distribution of annual grants among various associations, a committee has been formed under the chairmanship of Secretary Informationb Azmat Hanif Orakzai, saying the committee, by October 1.