LAHORE: The Pakistan Olympic Association, in collaboration with Beaconhouse National University Lahore, celebrated the ‘International Day of Sport for Development and Peace’ (IDSDP) here on Friday. The IDSDP is an annual celebration that highlights and promotes the power of sport as a catalyst for social change in all corners of the world. This event is in line with the strategic road map of Olympic Agenda 2020 and is also an attempt to fulfill the UNO Agenda 2030. Ms Ada Jaffery, POA Deputy Secretary Women and Sports Commission, read the message of the POA President Lt Gen (r) Syed Arif Hasan on the occasion. Syed Arif is currently attending the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast in Australia. POA Vice President Ch Muhammad Yaqoob, was the chief guest while Beaconhouse National University Vice Chancellor Shahid Hafiz Kardar, BNU Executive Director Students Affairs & External Relations Zaeem Yaqoob Khan were the guests of honour. The BNU officials appreciated the POA efforts for promoting peace through sports and thanked Syed Arif and POA Secretary General Muhammad Khalid Mahmood for this institutional collaboration. The duo was enthusiastic for future collaborations with the POA. Manzoor ul Hassan (hockey Olympian) and Eesha Khan (former swimmer and IOC certified coach), being keynote speakers, shared their views on ‘Peace through Sports and the Spirit of Olympism’ as well as their personal sporting experience with students. Peace walk and white card symbolic demonstration was also held to show solidarity with the international campaigns. Many POA office bearers and POA Executive Committee members, President and Secretaries of the National Sports Federations, Services and Departments and national sports dignitaries also attended the event. Muhammad Jahangir, Chairman Organizing Committee IDSDP, concluded the event with vote of thanks especially acknowledging the distinguished guests, volunteers, athletes and students. Published in Daily Times, April 7th 2018.