PESHAWAR: Adviser to the chief minister on information and public relations Ajmal Khan Wazir said on Sunday that the provincial government was fully determined to utilise all possible resources to benefit from capabilities of the youth by involving them in positive activities such as sports and tourism.

Talking to mediapersons at Qayyum Stadium, Peshawar, Mr Wazir said that the government had planned the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa U-21 Games in continuation of the policies as per the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan for development of the youth and to beat terrorism with tourism.

He said that Rs7.5 billion would be spent in two years on sports and tourism infrastructure in merged tribal districts to enable the youth take part in healthy activities and play effective role in development of the province.

Mr Wazir said that there was no dearth of talent in the merged tribal districts, but the people needed proper facilities to competewith people of other parts of the country. He said that participation of thousands of male and female players in the mega sports event had proved that the province was going to sports and tourism, saying that such activities were a good omen for the region as well.

Flanked by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Directorate of Sports director general Asfandyar Khan Khattak, he said that despite different disasters, including militancy, terrorism, floods and earthquakes in the province, the people remained steadfast and did not lose courage.

He said that the credit went to Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, who as sports minister in the previous government, worked on many development schemes aimed at attracting the youth towards positive activities.

Responding to different queries, he said that Prime Minister Imran Khan was expected to inaugurate the mega sports event of U-21 Games on Monday (today) as chief guest for which all arrangement had been made.

He also appreciated the director general sports Asfandyar Khattak for working day and night for completion of the arrangements. Earlier, Mr Wazir visited parts of the sports complex and appreciated the relevant staff.