PM orders policy for financial security of athletes

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday directed formulation of a policy to employ athletes through departments to ensure their financial security and promote sports in the country.

He tasked Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashhood to personally oversee the policy and ensure its implementation within one week.

The prime minister was addressing an event held to celebrate the achievement of Pakistan hockey team that recently won silver medal in the final of 30th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2024 in Malaysia.

PM Sharif said: “Jobs for athletes would free them from the struggles of earning livelihood, thus helping them to focus on their sports”.

He lauded the outstanding performance of the national hockey team, terming it a step to revive the glory of national sport.

The premier stated the hockey team had won the hearts of the entire nation, adding that winning or losing was part of the game.

“The way you came up with a challenging and competing spirit in the final shows a high potential of several victories in future,” he told the hockey team as Pakistan made it to the final of Azlan Shah Cup after 13 years.

Sharif added that the government was taking steps to promote sports in the country with a special focus on hockey. The renewed interest in hockey throughout Pakistan signaled a promising trend for the future.

“The days are not far when the glory of hockey will be revived in Pakistan and we will have more legends like Islahuddin, Samiullah, and Shahbaz,” he said.

He appreciated the hard work of the team, coaches, and officials of the sports board. He announced to soon invite the relevant officials from sports board to discuss ways for the revival of hockey in the country.

The prime minister gave away cheques to the players of hockey team as a token of appreciation.

Captain of national hockey team Ammad Shakil Butt expressed his passion to keep up the spirit of his team and bring more laurels to the country.

Hockey legends including ‘Flying horse’ Samiullah, Olympian Islahuddin and Shahbaz Ahmed on the occasion lauded the keen interest of PM Shehbaz Sharif for the promotion of national sport in the country.