QUETTA: Balochistan’s Minister for Education, Ms. Raheela Hameed Khan Durrani, emphasized the critical role of sports in education while attending the closing ceremony of an Inter-Schools Hockey Tournament, organized to commemorate Defence Day. The minister personally distributed prizes and medals to the victorious young players, celebrating their achievements.
Addressing a gathering that included a large number of students, teachers, and local dignitaries, Minister Durrani declared the promotion of sports as one of her top priorities. She stressed the need to integrate extracurricular activities, particularly sports, as an essential component of the academic curriculum in all educational institutions. “I want extracurricular activities especially sports to be made an essential part of the curriculum,” she asserted.
Aligning her vision with that of the Chief Minister of Balochistan, Ms. Durrani outlined ongoing efforts to expand sports facilities and activities to the province’s remote regions. She stated that her focus remains on introducing a wider variety of sports in schools to identify and nurture young talent from an early age. Expressing a personal connection to the event, the minister shared her pride in hockey as Pakistan’s national sport, revealing that she had also played the game in the past.
The minister highlighted the broader societal benefits of a sports-oriented youth. She noted that engaging in sports is an excellent way to keep young people active and healthy, adding, “We want to see our playgrounds vibrant and full so that our youth remain fit and energetic.” Furthermore, she positioned sports as a powerful tool to shield the younger generation from negative influences and the scourge of drug abuse.
Commending the provincial Hockey Federation and school management for the tournament’s success, Minister Durrani assured them that their sports-related demands would be given due consideration, signaling the government’s commitment to fostering a vibrant sporting culture across Balochistan.
