Punjab to begin construction of ‘Sports City’ in 2026: Maryam Nawaz

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has announced that construction of a major Sports City will begin in 2026, which she declared as the “Year of Youth” in the province, underscoring her government’s focus on sports development and youth engagement.

Addressing a ceremony, the chief minister said that 3,000 athletes will participate in the Punjab Games, highlighting the scale of sporting activities being promoted across the province.

She said that her government was taking concrete steps to revive sports grounds and create opportunities for young people, shifting them away from excessive use of mobile phones and gadgets toward healthy physical activities.

Maryam Nawaz noted that Punjab possesses immense sporting talent and assured that all possible facilities would be provided to athletes to help them excel.

Emphasising the role of women in national development, she said women were working shoulder to shoulder with men in every field.

“A woman can run a country, a province, an industry and a ministry,” she said, adding that a woman can not only become chief minister but also compete strongly with men in leadership roles.

She said women are capable of fighting wars and flying aircraft, stressing resilience in the face of challenges.

The chief minister expressed gratitude for the warm welcome she received from young girls at the event and reiterated that empowering women remains a key priority of her government.

She also claimed that the crime rate against women in Punjab had significantly declined and said that record compliance with regulations was ensured during the recent Basant festival in Lahore.

Maryam Nawaz said that providing moments of happiness and positive opportunities to the people of Punjab was her responsibility, reaffirming her administration’s commitment to youth, sports and women’s empowerment initiatives.