Khelega Islamabad": Federal govt mandates sports in schools and madrassas

Khelega Islamabad": Federal govt mandates sports in schools and madrassas

By Nawaz Gohar ; The Federal government has decided to make sports activities mandatory across all public schools, private schools, and madrassas (religious seminaries) in the federal capital. The "Khelega Islamabad" Initiative During a high-level meeting chaired by the Federal Secretary for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC), Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, the government formally approved the launch of the "Khelega Islamabad: Together in Education, Together on the Field" program. This initiative is designed to ensure that students from all educational backgrounds have consistent access to organized sports. The meeting finalized that the "School Sports Year" will commence in Islamabad next month. However, the formal integration of the program will coincide with the start of the new academic year in the first week of April 2026. Key Features of the Program: Free Facilities & Coaching: Secretary Wani confirmed that all students will receive professional coaching and access to sports facilities free of charge. Talent Identification: A dedicated "Talent Hunt" will be launched to identify gifted athletes at the grassroots level and provide them with pathways to professional sports. Diverse Sporting Catalog: The program covers a wide array of disciplines, including Cricket, Hockey, Football, Judo, Karate, Athletics, and Tennis. According to the approved roadmap, Inter-School Competitions are set to begin in September 2026, culminating in the grand Islamabad School Games in January 2027. The primary objective of this initiative is to steer the younger generation toward healthy lifestyles while establishing a sustainable nursery for future national sporting heroes.