ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar underscored the significance of sports, particularly mind games, in promoting both physical and mental development among the youth, citing chess as a game that instills discipline in individuals' thought processes.
Speaking at the Prime Minister’s National Mind Sports Initiative launch, PM Kakar said that youth engaged in these healthy activities would likely become successful professionals in the future.
He noted that such games promote cognitive activity and critical thinking among players, pledging continued support and promotion of such events in the future. He also called for ensuring access to these games in every school across the country.
Acknowledging the role of Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination, Fawad Hassan Fawad, the PM credited him for enabling the launch of this initiative through personal efforts.
Fawad Hassan Fawad outlined that under the initiative, mind games facilities would be extended to 10,000 public schools nationwide. He highlighted plans to expand the initiative to include private schools and engage the corporate sector, to make mind games accessible in every school in Pakistan.
In recognition of the late Mir Sultan Khan's remarkable achievements in chess, President Arkady Dvorkovich presented an award to the PM on behalf of Mir Sultan Khan.
President Dvorkovich said chess was not only as a mind game but also a source of enjoyment, particularly for millions of young people in Pakistan.
He announced plans to provide access to chess for approximately 6,000,000 children in 10,000 schools across Pakistan, with support and training for teachers to facilitate training of students interested in these games.
The event was also attended by International Chess Federation Managing Director Dana Reizniece-Ozola, Asian Chess Federation President Sheikh Sultan bin Khaleefa Alnahyan, and Pakistan Chess Federation President Muhammad Hanif Qureshi.