By Our Correspondent
LAHORE (October 8, 2025): Provincial Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar has announced a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh for members of National Under-16 Volleyball team from Punjab at a ceremony held at the National Hockey Stadium on Wednesday.
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It may be mentioned here that Pakistan team edged out Iran by 3-2 in the Asian Men’s U-16 Volleyball Championship final at Nakhon Phanom, Thailand to book a berth in FIVB U-17 World Championship scheduled to be organized in Qatar in 2026.
Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Muzaffar Khan Sial, Additional Secretary Sports Mian Usman Ali, Director Admin Abid Shaukat, Director Sports Rana Nadeem Anjum, Chief Sports Consultant SBP Hafeez Bhatti, and other officials were also present on this occasion.
Head Coach of National U-16 Volleyball team Kafayatullah, Coach Mohibullah, Captain M Irfan and players Faraz Ahmed, Azhar Mahmood, Talha and Asadullah were also present on this occasion. The provincial minister for sports also presented the souvenir to all the players.
Talking on this occasion, Provincial Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that the members of National Under-16 Volleyball team from Punjab will be given Rs 70,000 per month for one year under Platinum Category of Punjab Sports Endowment Fund. “The members of National Under-16 Volleyball team will be provided all facilities for the preparation of FIVB U-17 World Championship 2026”.
Provincial Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that the purpose of awarding cash prizes to young players is to encourage them for upcoming bigger event. “Punjab Sports Department will continue to extend every kind of support to top performing players”.
The provincial minister for sports and youth affairs said qualifying for FIVB U-17 World Championship 2026 is definitely a major development. He urged the members of National Under-16 Volleyball team to work hard and utilize their best abilities for the preparation of upcoming mega event.
Provincial Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar announced that the first volleyball complex will be constructed in Punjab at a cost of Rs 55 crore. “Multipurpose sports complexes will also be built at the tehsil and village level”.
