PESHAWAR: The Peshawar Press Club’s vibrant Sports Gala concluded after 10 days of exciting competitions.Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Syed Shahab Ali Shah attended the closing ceremony as the chief guest and distributed prizes among journalists who secured top positions in various games.
Addressing the ceremony, Chief Secretary Syed Shahab Ali Shah praised the Peshawar Press Club for organizing the HBK Ramadan Sports Gala for its members and working journalists. He expressed his delight at seeing over 250 journalists participate in competitions such as badminton, table tennis, snooker, ludo, and carrom board. He noted that such events provide journalists with a welcome break from their professional commitments and foster recreational engagement.
Recognizing the historical significance of the Peshawar Press Club, he commended its role in promoting responsible journalism and safeguarding the welfare of media professionals in the province.
He reaffirmed his commitment to addressing the challenges faced by journalists and announced plans to facilitate them, including the development of a Media Enclave in New Peshawar Valley. Highlighting the media’s role in governance and service delivery, he emphasized that constructive criticism served as a valuable tool for reform and improvement, helping to identify and resolve key issues.
During the ceremony, the chief secretary distributed prizes to the winning journalists and announced a donation of Rs500,000 to support the Peshawar Press Club’s sports initiatives.Earlier, Peshawar Press Club President M Riaz welcomed the chief secretary and expressed gratitude for his visit. He also outlined the objectives of the HBK Ramadan Sports Gala.
Khyber Union of Journalists President Kashifuddin also addressed the gathering.On the occasion, senior journalist Shamim Shahid and M. Riaz presented a shield to the chief secretary in recognition of his support for the journalist community.
A number of senior journalists, bureau chiefs of print and electronic media, newspaper editors, reporters, video journalists, and photojournalists attended the ceremony. Director General of Information and Public Relations Khyber Pakhtun-khwa, Saleem Khan, was also present.