Johar Hockey Stadium

LAHORE - Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif Thursday inaugurated the first ever fully-furnished sports venue Johar Hockey Stadium, which has a capacity of nearly 1500, here at Johar Town.An exhibition match between Pakistan Whites and Greens was also played before the inauguration ceremony in which Olympians and Pakistan team players locked horns. M Imran struck twice while Shakeel Abbasi had one goal in Pakistan Greens victory over Whites. Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly and Youth Festival chief organiser Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, Director General Sports and Youth Affairs Usman Anwar and chairman managing committee new hockey stadium Olympian Akhtar Rasool as well as 13 Olympians were also present on the occasion to make the inauguration ceremony of the new hockey stadium more colourful. It is pertinent to mention here that the venue is one of the 4500 grounds which the Sports Board Punjab got vacated or cleaned during the Punjab Sports Festival last year when dengue epidemic hit the province. A large number of people including school children, hockey players and Olympians were present there to enjoy the evening. The Olympians and hockey players welcomed the chief minister warmly. Later, Shahbaz Sharif hit the ball with the hockey stick to formally declare the stadium open and also unveiled the inauguration plaque. He lauded the efforts of DG SBP Usman Anwar and DG LDA Ahad for the establishment of such a great stadium in the city after a gap of 25 years which will pave the way as the foundation of the game in the country. “It will set a solid base for the sports, the hockey players and the game itself. This stadium will also help reviving hockey once again,” he said. He also announced the revival of the hockey team in Punjab Police. “Taking the opportunity, I would like to announce the establishment of Police hockey team. They will be given proper position in police and will also be paid handsomely.” Speaking on the occasion, Rana Mashood said: “The organisation of the Punjab Youth Festival and the establishment of the Johar Stadium is a success story that started from the Punjab Sports Festival late last year, which is the biggest historical achievement of the Punjab government.” “All the successive efforts of the Punjab government were the vision of Khadim-e-Aala who went on to work for the noble cause and did not left a single stone unturned in providing the people proper amenities of life,” he added. Akhtar Rasool thanked the chief minister for the stadium on behalf of the entire hockey family. He also thanked DG Sports and DG LDA for providing the hockey lovers a golden opportunity to revive the national game in the country.