BAHAWALPUR: ThePunjab government has launched the firstever synthetic athletics project costing Rs370 million at the Dring Stadium here.

The launch ceremony was chaired by Commissioner Raja Jahanagir Anwar, who laid its foundationstone at the stadium on Saturday.

The commissioner said after the completion of the project, national and interna-tional athletics meets could be held here.

About the salient features of the project,Divisional Sports Organiser Maqsood Ahmed told Dawn that the project would have a mini pavilion, allweather synthetic track called `tartan track` which would be 400 meters long with nine lanes having complete facilities for long, triple and high jumps, Javlin throw, discuss throw and pole vault.

He expressed the hope that the project could be completed within a year.