Sports create national harmony and cohesion: Marriyum

ISLAMABAD, Jan 19 (APP):Sports create national harmony,cohesion and positive mannerism, therefore, the promotion of sports was imperative for the growth of a healthy society. This was stated by Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb while talking to a delegation of Rawalpindi-Islamabad Sports Journalist Association which called on her here Friday.
The minister said that sports, culture and national heritage were the bright identities of Pakistan. She said that the government was striving hard to refurbish the image and identity of the country through revival of sports, culture and film industry. Marriyum said that during ’60s Pakistan had one of the best film industries in the world adding that the government would soon announce Film Production and Cultural policies.
The minister said that sports activities in the country had been revived due to the return of peaceful conditions as a result of the steps taken in conformity with the vision of the former Prime Minister and the unparalleled sacrifices rendered by the armed forces, law enforcement agencies and police. She said that the nation had bravely confronted the scourge of terrorism.
The minister acknowledged that the journalists had made a very positive contribution for the promotion of sports in spite of difficult circumstances. She observed that the Chief Minister Punjab had taken a number of concrete steps for promotion of sports including holding of sports competitions at the Union Council level and development of the play grounds. Similarly the PML (N) leader Haneef Abbassi was playing an important role in promoting sports in the Rawalpindi Division.
She informed the delegation that the government would organize workshops for the sports journalists and it had also decided to include sports journalism in the syllabus of training course at the Information Academy.