ISLAMABAD: A delegation of Rawalpindi Islamabad Sports Journalists Association (RISJA) visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI). The delegation was led by its President Mohsin Ali and Chairman Abdul Moin Shah and called upon the private sector to play its role for promotion of sports activities in the country.
Speaking on the occasion, Abdul Moin Shah said that players of various games, including hockey and squash need sponsorship to sustain themselves and earn good name for the country. He stressed that the business community should come forward to provide financial support to the talented players so that they could fully focus on sports and harness their talent for achieving laurels for the country.
Mohsin Ali, President, RISJA appreciated the role of ICCI for patronizing sports activities including Pakistan’s cricket team of special persons. He said Pakistan has produced world renowned players in Squash but the squash in the country was now on the decline. He appealed to the Chief of Air Staff to look into these affairs and take urgent measures for revival of squash in Pakistan.
In his welcome address, M. Ashfaq Hussain Chatha, Acting President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that sporting events create many new jobs and generate lot of economic activities and stressed upon the government to focus on promoting sports activities that will help in promoting business activities in the country as well.
He said Pakistan’s Special Olympics squad has achieved 34 medals in the just concluded Summer Special Olympics World Games 2015 in Los Angeles which was a great achievement for the country. It showed that Pakistan has great sporting talent and government should explore possibilities of public-private partnership to fully support the talented players so that the country could produce international stars in various sports fields.
He said ICCI has formed its Sports Committee to focus on promoting sports activities and assured that ICCI was ready to cooperate with RISJA to encourage talented players of various games.
Muhammad Shakeel Munir, Senior Vice President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry thanked the RISJA delegation for visiting ICCI and said that close liaison between both organizations was important for encouraging talented players. Zahid Maqbool former President ICCI, Abbas Hashmi and many members of RISJA also spoke at the occasion and gave many suggestions for promoting sports activities in the country.
