KARACHI (Sports Bulletin Report):-President, Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), Lt Gen Arif Hasan, who is also chief of the Commonwealth Games Association of Pakistan, viewed off that the warm reception accorded to the Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton, which arrived in the city for the first time would help to display the positive image of the country across the world.
"An overwhelming turn-out of the citizens at Queens Baton Relay receptions in Karachi is a testimony to the fact that Pakistan's is a sports-loving nation and it will help us restore and host international sporting events in the country which in turn would promote peace and harmony in the society.
He was speaking at a reception hosted by Queens Baton Relay Organising Committee Chairperson Fatima Lakhani to celebrate the successful holding of the QBR handing over events in the city.
POA Secretary-General Mohammad Khalid Mehmood, Deputy Secretary-General Mohammad Jahangir, Organising Committee Deputy Chairman Syed Waseem Hashmi, Secretary Ahmed Ali Rajput, Tehmina Asif, Veena Masood, Nargis Rahimtoola, Asif Azim, Parvez Ahmed, Col Nasir, Imtiaz Ahmed and Asghar Baloch among other sports dignitaries and organizers attended this grand reception.
Gen Arif Hassan further said that the participation of squash legend Jahangir Khan, hockey great Hasan Sardar and other sports greats including Inam But, Arshad Nadeem, Talha Talib, and Haider Ali added warmth and dignity to the QBR receptions as these are our national heroes and people love to follow them in words and deeds.
Gen Arif Hasan was all praise for the Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, security apparatus of the province, the British Deputy High Commissioner Martin Dawson, Commissioner Karachi Muhammad Iqbal Memon, Karachi Grammar School Administrator, Sindh Madressatul Islam VC Dr Mujeebuddin Memon, and all other dignitaries and sports personalities and last but not the least the citizens of Karachi who were part of the warm reception of QBR.
Later souvenirs were distributed among the organising committee members by Gen Arif Hassan. Also, special gifts were given away to all participants of the reception on behalf of Fatima Lakhani and Syed Waseem Hashmi on this occasion.
