Mohammad Riaz’s struggle catches PM’s attention

ISLAMABAD: Mohammad Riaz, a rising star in Pakistan’s national football team, has been invited to the Prime Minister House after The News shed light on his heartbreaking journey—from the football field to selling jalebis on a street corner in his hometown, Hangu.

Riaz, one of the most promising footballers in the country, was left jobless when K-Electric, his former department, abandoned its football team along with many others. The dissolution of departmental soccer, despite Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s directives for its restoration, has left countless talented athletes struggling to survive. According to sources at the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), Riaz has been invited to the PM House on Wednesday, where he may meet the Prime Minister, depending on his availability. This correspondent first broke the story—later picked up by major TV channels and news websites—bringing national attention to Riaz’s plight. His invitation to the PM House is seen as a crucial step in acknowledging the struggles of Pakistan’s elite athletes and restoring their lost dignity.