rki.news | Altaf Hamid Rao
MIRPUR (AJK), October 4: Vice Chancellor of the state-run Mirpur University of Science and Technology (MUST) Prof. Dr. Anwar Khattab has said sports, alongside education and research, are an essential part of life and can help engage youth in healthy activities while strengthening bonds of friendship and fraternity among people from different regions.
He was speaking here on Sunday at an event related to the Kashmir Premier League (KPL) Football Tournament, scheduled to be held on October 8, 9 and 10, with teams from Ladakh, Srinagar, Jammu, Poonch, Mirpur and Muzaffarabad participating.
Dr. Anwar Khattab said hosting major sporting events in Mirpur could open new avenues for social and economic activity in the region. Such events could strengthen interaction among players, officials and spectators from different cities while generating economic activity in hospitality, transport, markets, restaurants and other sectors.
He said sporting events could also pave the way for broader educational, cultural, social and commercial cooperation among participating regions.
The Vice Chancellor said providing maximum opportunities for students and youth to participate in sports was a collective responsibility. Sports promote discipline, tolerance, teamwork, leadership and a healthy competitive spirit, while meaningful engagement in healthy activities could help protect young people from negative influences.
He said the KPL would strengthen links between the university and society, adding that a university was not merely a centre of education and research but also an institution for youth guidance, social welfare and positive social change. He appreciated the role of Muslim Hands in welfare initiatives, including the installation of floodlights and water filtration plants in different areas.
Dr. Anwar Khattab said clean water, a clean environment and healthy activities were among the key messages of the KPL event. He said the tournament would also promote awareness about safe drinking water, solid waste management and environmental cleanliness.
He stressed the need to integrate sports, tourism, education and culture to create new opportunities for youth and communities across the region. He also called for sporting opportunities and necessary support for underprivileged children so that talent was not lost due to a lack of resources.
He said Kashmir’s natural beauty, cultural diversity and hospitality provided a strong foundation for linking sports with tourism and wider regional development.
The event was attended by Director Administration Benazir Bhutto Medical College Prof. Dr. Ejaz Ahmed Chaudhry, Medical Superintendent DHQ Hospital Dr. Ejaz Ahmed Raja, captains of participating teams and other personalities.
The participants expressed their resolve to continue joint efforts to promote sports, provide youth with opportunities for positive engagement, strengthen interaction among people from different regions, boost economic activity and promote a healthy and clean society.
