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Thursday March 28, 2024

NA body wants a professional DG for PSB

By Abdul Mohi Shah
January 31, 2018

ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Tuesday wanted to have a versatile and professional director general for Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and has formed a sub-committee to suggest the suitable names to the government for the purpose.

The committee met under the chairmanship of Abdul Qahar Khan and constituted a four-member committee comprising Shafqat Hayat Khan, Siraj Mohammad Khan, Saeed Ahmed Khan and Sabiha Nazir.

During the meeting it was stated that only a candidate having sports know-how should be elevated to the post of director general. “Unless and until the candidate has adequate knowledge about sports and sports administration, it would be difficult for him to run country’s sports system,” the committee said.

The sitting DG Dr Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera, who will retire on February 28, was also praised for his services for sports and sports administration.“I have to admit here that Dr Ganjera has been a true professional. He was not only a hardworking individual but also has good knowledge of sports and sports administration that made him a successful office-bearer,” Minister for IPC Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada said.

Shafqat Hayat too praised Dr Ganjera’s acumen, saying that he found him a true professional.Pirzada added that though he had completed a formality of sending a summary to the prime minister, he did not feel any of the candidates fulfill the basic requirements.

The committee members also expressed concerns over the falling standard of the national game.“Hockey is our national game but its standard is continuously declining at all the levels. No efforts are being made to stem the rot,” Shafqat added.

He said that standard of Pakistan hockey is in doldrums and no efforts are being made to lift its standard. “Efforts should be made to groom talent at grassroots level. Districts and regions should be involved in picking up the real talent. We ruled the world of hockey in the past but now struggling to beat even the minnows.”

The IPC minister asked the PHF to lure the sponsors at their own instead of looking to government in this regard.“We are also trying to shift the hockey headquarters to Islamabad from Lahore.”