The third sports gala, being participated by both the public and private sector universities of the NWFP, started at the premises of University of Peshawar (PU) on Wednesday morning.
The wife NWFP Governor Lieutenant General Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai (retd) was the chief guest on this occasion, which formally inaugurated the event in a colourful ceremony held at the lawn of College of Home Economics, a constituent institution of the university.
The event has been arranged by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the Peshawar University has also been honoured for the third consecutive time as being host to it.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, the wife of Lieutenant General Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai (retd) said the sports had a vital role and importance not only in ensuring better physical and mental health of individuals, but was also important in the flourishing societies on healthy lines.
Apart from this, she added, a sense of realisation was also created in the minds of the players to abide by disciplines and rules, which further led to be a source of help and support in their practical lives as well. She highly appreciated the holding of the sports gala and wished its complete success.
The event, she remarked, would definitely prove an effective chance for the concerned organisations to select able players for further flourishing the name of their respective institution and the province by making their participation possible in the national and international level events.
Appreciating the HEC services, she said, its role and contribution was not only recognised as remarkable achievement towards the academic development in the country, but was also of great appreciation in promoting sports.
She also mentioned the role and contribution of the Peshawar University, and said its selection for being host for the third consecutive time itself spoke its appreciable performance.
Pointing towards the students, she said that both the government and parents of the students were spending their hard-earned money to enable their wards to seek knowledge in such a magnificent institution.
Professor Dr Haroon Rasheed, welcoming the guests, said the university had been honoured to host the sports gala- 2006-07 by the HEC, which also spoke the success of the earlier ones. Highlighting the importance of the sports, he said, there could never be any gender discrimination and the sports were equally important for physical and mental health and in flourishing both male and female populace. He also appreciated the performance of the organisers and stressed that they must also spare no chance in making the Gala a complete success and up to the desired standards.
He also thanked the wife of the Governor for gracing the occasion by making here presence possible. Earlier, the wife of the Governor witnessed the initial events and awarded prizes and medals to the winners. Gulshan Bano of NWFP University of Agriculture clinched the gold medal, while Aasia of Kohat University of Science and Technology and Fatima of Women University bagged silver and bronze medals respectively for being adjudged as runner-ups in the 100 meters race.
Highly smart contingents of Islamia Collegiate School, another constituent institution of the university, presented gymnastic, PT show, march past and army drill and received great appreciation for their performance.
The march-past was participated by the members of the participating teams, representing Hazara, Peshawar, KUST, Sarhad, Malakand, Engineering, Agricultural, and Women universities as well as the Peshawar-based City District College.
Later, the wife of the Governor inspected various laboratories and library of the college, and took keen interest in ceramic, textile, weaving, architecture, clothing and construction laboratories and appreciated the performance of the students.