PM announces Rs500 million grant for sports

KARACHI: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Thursday announced a special grant of Rs500m for development of sports infrastructure, training of athletes and to support federations.

A senior official of Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) told ‘The News’ on Thursday that the PM announced the grant at the reception he extended in honour of Pakistan’s contingent which took part in the Commonwealth Games in Australia last month.

According to the PSB official, the PM said that the government alone could not meet the huge financial demand of sports. He said corporate sector should also be engaged in the process.

The country’s premier wrestler Mohammad Inam was handed over a purse of Rs5 million for winning gold medal in the Commonwealth Games.

Wrestlers Mohammad Bilal and Tayyab Raza and weightlifters Nooh Dastagir Butt and Talha Talib were given Rs1 million each for winning bronze medals.

The federal minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Riaz Pirzada briefed the PM about Pakistan’s achievements in sports during his tenure as the minister. Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) president Lt Gen (retd) Arif Hasan also attended the reception.