AsiaNet-Pakistan Premier Editorial Content and Press Release Distribution Service
Lahore, December 20, 2015 (PPI-OT): WAPDA Sports Board (WSB) today arranged a ceremony here at WAPDA House to celebrate 55 years of its inception. WAPDA Chairman and WSB Patron-in-Chief Zafar Mahmood was the chief guest on the occasion. WAPDA Member (Power) Badr-ul-Munir Murtiza, WAPDA Secretary and WSB President Amer Ahmad, WAPDA Sports Advisor Shafqat Rana, WSB officials and WAPDA players belonging to various disciplines, who brought laurels to Pakistan in international events, also attended the ceremony.
Addressing on the occasion, the Chairman said that WAPDA would continue playing its role in promoting sports in Pakistan. He said that the objective of today’s interaction with the media is to apprise the public with the help of media about WAPDA’s achievements in sports, which it earned during the last 55 years.
Expressing satisfaction over the performance of WSB, he said that WAPDA has its teams in all those sports being played in the country. There are WAPDA women teams in most of sports disciplines as well, but a few of them are yet to be set up, he further said. The Chairman announced to form WAPDA women teams in the remaining sports disciplines.
The Chairman said that WAPDA has introduced three initiatives in sports as its corporate social responsibility namely ‘WAPDA Endowment Fund for Sports’ to elevate the standard of sports in Pakistan, ‘WAPDA Athletics Colts’ to promote athletics in the country and ‘Focus on Fielding and Fitness’ to improve the fielding in Pakistan’s cricket.
Referring to the rehabilitation of the two cricketers Salman Butt and Muhammad Asif who joined WAPDA, he said that their presence is the living reminder for all players to refrain themselves from unethical and unlawful activities in games. One should not indulge oneself in wrong practices for short-lived benefits rather play for glory of the nation, he added.
Earlier, WSB Director General Col. (R) Asif Mehdi briefed the audience about the achievements of WAPDA sports during the last 55 years. He informed them that WAPDA has 58 teams in all – 35 men and 23 women. At present WAPDA is champion in 27 sports and runners-up in 19 disciplines. WAPDA players bagged more than 10 thousand medals at national level during the period. Besides, WAPDA players while representing Pakistan in various international events since 2006 have also won 45 gold medals, 56 silver medals and 47 bronze medals for the country.
Later, WSB Finance Secretary Syed Haroon Masood briefed the audience about new initiatives of WAPDA. Highlighting the performance of the players who were groomed through WAPDA Endowment Fund for Sports, he said that positive outcome of the scheme started in 2010, has started arriving, as these players have so far won two gold medals, three silver medals and two bronze medals in international competitions. Cricketers Salman Butt and Muhammad Asif also addressed the ceremony to share their experiences in the wake of spot fixing case.
For more information, contact:
Muhammad Abid Rana
Director Public Relations
Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA)
G-32, WAPDA House, Lahore
Tel: +92-42-99202633
Fax: +92-42-99203144
Cell: +92-333-4458293
Email: mabidrana@gmail.com
Website: www.wapda.gov.pk