ISLAMABAD, June 27 (TNF): Adviser to the Prime Minister on Inter-Provincial Coordination Rana Sanaullah has strongly criticized Pakistan’s national sports federations, describing them as “parking spaces for retired individuals” and underscoring the urgent need for reforms to revitalize the country’s sports sector.
Speaking at a ceremony where the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) distributed cash awards to international medal-winning athletes, Sanaullah stressed the importance of fresh leadership in sports bodies, suggesting that no federation’s leadership should remain unchanged for more than three to five years. He lamented Pakistan’s limited success at the global level, pointing out that a nation of 250 million people has only one Olympic gold medal in individual sports, referring to javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem’s historic victory in Paris last year.
According to Dawn News, Sanaullah emphasized that only institutional reforms and early-stage coaching can secure long-term success in sports. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening sports federations and promoting a healthy sports culture as part of building a stronger, fitter nation.
At the event, Arshad Nadeem received the highest cash prize of Rs2 million for his gold medal at the Asian Athletics Championships, while his coach Salman Butt was awarded Rs600,000. In total, the PSB disbursed Rs8.2 million among 36 athletes in recognition of their achievements on international platforms.
Among the other recipients, cueist Ahsan Ramzan was awarded Rs500,000 for his bronze medal at the Under-21 Asian Snooker Championship, while Mohammad Asif received a similar prize for winning the SAARC Snooker Championship. Mohammad Naseem Akhtar was given Rs100,000 for his bronze medal at the same event. In table tennis, teenager Abdal Mohammad Khan was awarded Rs250,000 for a silver medal at the Under-15 South Asian Youth Championship singles event, and along with Zunaira Khan, received Rs187,500 for silver in mixed doubles. Abdal and his teammates Noor Khan, Taha Bilal, Abu Huraira, Attaul Manan, and Moosa Asif each received Rs75,000 for their boys doubles and team event medals.
Special Olympics athletes were also honoured for their performances at the World Winter Games. Abdul Saboor Ahmad received Rs250,000 for gold in the 400m Snowshoeing event and Rs100,000 for bronze in the 200m event. Muhammad Afaq Khan and Muhammad Moazzam Iqbal were awarded Rs250,000 each for winning gold, while Muneeb-ur-Rehman earned Rs250,000 each for his gold medals in the 50m and 100m cross-country skiing. Relay team members Abdul Saboor, Afaq, Moazzam, and Ali Raza, along with Minahil, Raveena Qurban, Iqra Akram, Shah Galoon Hayat, and Tabassum, each received Rs150,000 for their team performances.
The PSB also disbursed Rs63.9 million to 22 national sports federations in annual and special grants. The Athletics Federation of Pakistan received the largest share at Rs10 million. The National Rifle Association of Pakistan was allocated Rs7 million, including Rs2 million as its annual grant, while the handball and squash federations received special grants of Rs5 million each.
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