Ahsan Iqbal says he was jailed for building Sports City

Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal has said he spent two and a half months in prison for developing the Narowal Sports City, a project aimed

Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal has said he spent two and a half months in prison for developing the Narowal Sports City, a project aimed at providing young people with modern sports facilities and opportunities for professional training.

Iqbal made these remarks during a visit to Narowal Sports City, where he expressed happiness at seeing the sports grounds restored and active again. He said the revival of the facility was encouraging, particularly because it had been designed to promote sports and help young people develop their abilities.

The federal minister said he had been sent to jail for building the sports complex, despite his efforts to establish facilities for the country’s youth. He recalled spending two and a half months in prison over the project, which he described as an initiative intended to provide young people with opportunities to participate in sports and pursue their ambitions.

Iqbal also announced that a friendly hockey match between Pakistan and China would be played the following day. He described the match as the fulfilment of his dream, highlighting the importance of sports in strengthening friendly relations between the two countries.

He said the National Sports City would become an important centre for the training and development of young athletes. According to the minister, national-level coaches would be available throughout the year to provide professional training in 12 to 14 different sports.

The facility is expected to help aspiring athletes improve their skills under the supervision of qualified coaches. The availability of year-round training would also provide young players with greater opportunities to prepare for national-level competitions.

The minister further said that various sports training camps would be organised under the supervision of the University of Narowal. These camps would help promote sporting activities, develop emerging talent and provide young people with access to structured training programmes.

Iqbal expressed hope that Narowal Sports City would play a significant role in strengthening Pakistan’s sports infrastructure and encouraging greater participation among young people. The project is intended to provide a platform where aspiring athletes can receive professional guidance and work towards representing the country at higher levels of competition.