Sports Reporter
PESHAWAR: A four-day sports festival for orphans and destitute children commenced under the auspices of the Sports Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at the Model Institute for State Children Zamong Kur located on Charsadda Road, Peshawar. The festival features a wide range of sports competitions and recreational activities aimed at entertainment and talent development.
The opening ceremony was graced by the Advisor to the Chief Minister on Sports and Youth Affairs, Taj Muhammad Tarand, as the chief guest. Also present were Secretary Sports Muhammad Asif Khan, Director General Sports Tashfeen Haider, Director Zamong Kur Sadaqatullah, Deputy Director Riaz Khan, Additional DG Sports Rashida Ghaznavi, Director Operations Jamshed Baloch, and other dignitaries.
Children of Zamong Kur presented impressive martial arts demonstrations and traditional dances at the ceremony, drawing appreciation from attendees. Addressing the gathering, Taj Muhammad Tarand said that seeing smiles on the children’s faces was a source of immense joy, adding that these children are the responsibility of the state. He reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to their welfare and emphasized that sports and extracurricular activities play a vital role in nurturing talent and confidence.
“The main purpose of organizing sports is to provide entertainment opportunities to children as well as highlight their talent,” he said, announcing that inter-school games, minority games, under-21 games, and transgender games would also be organized in the future.
Speaking on the occasion, Secretary Sports Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Director Zamong Kur stressed the importance of focused attention on orphans and vulnerable children, noting that they are an integral part of society and deserve equal opportunities.
More than 500 boys and girls from Zamong Kur Peshawar, Zamong Corps Abbottabad, Swat Campus, DI Khan Campus, Akhpal Kor, SOS Children’s Villages, and other orphan care institutions are participating in events including cricket, football, badminton, kabaddi, basketball, tug-of-war, athletics, volleyball, and musical chairs.
