Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali Monday announced cash prizes for Pakistani athletes winning first three positions in any event of the upcoming South Asian Federation (SAF) games.
Addressing the athletes preparing for the Nineth SAF games starting from March 29 here at the Liaquat Gymnasium, he said any athlete winning a gold in any event will get a prize of Rs 1 million.
Those winning a silver medal will get Rs 0.5 million and a bronze Rs 0.2 million, he said, adding the objective was to give them an incentive, and boost their morale.
The prime minister urged the athletes to work hard inculcate discipline in their lives and reflect sportsman spirit in all their worldly affairs.
He assured support and provision of all resources to meet the needs of the sportsmen, saying the government would never hesitate in providing them all facilities.
He referred to the sporting events in the past which raised the name of the country from obscurity to fame like the Olympics of 1960 and 1984.
Jamali said the negative tendencies of betting and match-fixing have brought bad name to the sports, but healthy sports is a key to a healthy life and a healthy nation.
He advised the sportsmen to show humbleness when they succeed, work hard if they loose and to treat it as a wake-up call if they draw.
"Never feel bad about loosing, but channel your energies to work hard, harder than before", he advised.
He said, "Sports should always be treated as such, in a sporting manner", adding involvement in any sports in life, whether for fun or for profession have a positive impact on ones life. He said he was still a sportsman at heart and whenever he gets some time he watches and enjoys sporting events.
He asked Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat to waive the charges on the SAF banners in the federal capital.
The Minister of State for Sports, Rais Muneer, said the government has provided all facilities for the training of the athletes at Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, adding the preparations for the SAF games were in final phases.
The director-General, Pakistan Sports Board, hoped the Pakistani athletes would work hard to bring laurels to their country.
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