Karachi, During the opening ceremony of the Prime Minister’s Talent Hunt Youth Sports League at Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU), Professor Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan, highlighted the crucial role of youth in the nation’s future, urging for enhanced focus on their development through sports and education.

According to Sindh Madressatul Islam University, Dr. Ahmed addressed the necessity of reversing the declining availability of sports facilities in educational institutions and discussed the HEC’s investment in promoting sports alongside academic pursuits. He emphasized the importance of physical activities in developing well-rounded individuals and mentioned HEC’s efforts to facilitate international sports collaborations, including sending teams to countries like Russia and Germany during summer vacations.

The event also celebrated the reappointment of Dr. Mujeeb Sahrai as the Vice Chancellor of SMIU. Dr. Sahrai, in his speech, praised the role of the HEC in supporting higher education and sports, noting the participation of 1500 players in the sports league across Sindh, with 60 finalists competing in Karachi. He called for the inclusion of regional games in HEC’s sports initiatives to preserve and promote cultural heritage.

Dr. Tariq Rafi, Chairman of Sindh HEC, advocated for dedicated sports budgets for universities to regularize and enhance sports activities, highlighting the soft power of sports in presenting Pakistan’s image internationally. The ceremony concluded with the distribution of souvenirs to guests, including HEC officials and sports team representatives from across the province.