PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman, Imran Khan on Tuesday laid the foundation stone of Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium with an aim to reconstruct it according to international needs with all facilities costing Rs 1.39 billion.

Besides him, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Information Minister Shah Farman, Elementary and Secondary Education Minister Muhammad Atif, Chief Minister’s Higher Education Adviser Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani, Sports Secretary Muhammad Tariq Khan, Sports DG Junaid Khan, Women Games Director Miss Rashida Ghaznavi, project director and the leader’s fans were also present.

Speaking on this occasion, Imran Khan said that KP is full of talent and with an international standard stadium, carrying a test status international, bringing back international cricket to Peshawar will be possible.

He said that Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium will host many international Test and One-Day International matches as it is being equipped with facilities that are currently at the Dubai Cricket Stadium.

He said that the government is keen to involve the youth in healthy and productive activities which is why initiative had been taken to provide playgrounds facilities at Union Council, Tehsil and District levels.

He further said that 100 grounds have already been completed and handed over to the KP Sports Directorate General for the 3rd edition of the forthcoming Under-23 games in which 11500 male and female athletes will participate.

He added that the youth voted PTI to power in KP and their welfare is the government’s prime objective. Moreover, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led government aims to provide the youth with opportunities to exhibit their talents and bring a name to the province and country.

Later, the PTI chairman also inaugurated the recently rehabilitated Peshawar Sports Complex which has been rehabilitated at a total cost of Rs 164 million to provide enhanced sports activities to upcoming players.

Briefing Imran Khan, KP Sports DG Junaid Khan said that after the execution of this project the Stadium will provide all facilities required by a cricketer.

The facilities include an improved ground, pavilion, changing rooms, seating capacity of 32000 spectators, an additional floor, flood-lights, dining halls, conference halls, a swimming pool, office-rooms, washrooms, media galleries, VIP stands, generators, a national cricket academy, two gymnasiums, indoor and outdoor practice pitches, five-star accommodations for the players, and digital monitoring systems.

Imran concluded by saying that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with the PCB’s chief operating officer for this purpose.