Almost all federations to get grants: PSB DG

KARACHI: Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Director General Col (retd) Asif Zaman on Monday said that in the next few days national federations will be invited to have a discussion with them on various matters.

“We plan to invite federations for a meeting in the next three to four days. We plan to give them grants and we will also seek a two-year plan from them and will definitely work on it so that sports could be put on the right track,” Asif told ‘The News’ in an interview from Islamabad.

When asked how many federations would be given grants, Asif said almost every one would. “We want to give grants to almost every federation. Yes, those which have done nothing may be ignored,” he said.

He said that the federations would also be consulted about the 14th South Asian Games which Pakistan is supposed to host in early 2023. “There are a lot of matters regarding the Games and we will take input from them,” Asif said.

Federations are also expected to be taken into confidence regarding the proposed national sports policy. Asif also disclosed that the Board has rescheduled its meeting regarding the South Asian Games with the Pakistan Olympic Association’s (POA) president Lt Gen (retd) Arif Hasan and secretary general Khalid Mehmood.

“This meeting will now be held on June 14 as per General Arif’s request,” Asif said. General Arif is in the United States and he will be taken on video call to discuss with him various matters relating to the SAG.

The Games have been planned to be conducted in March 2023 at Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Sialkot. A few events may be held in Islamabad and Peshawar about which the eventual decision is yet to be made.

Pakistan was supposed to host the biennial event this year but it could not be made possible due to various reasons, including the Covid issue. Asif said that the Board is committed to developing sports and wants to take along all stakeholders. He said that whatever the budget the PSB got would be effectively utilised so that sports could be promoted.

Asif said that they had requested the government to increase the PSB budget. “We have requested for increase in our budget for the next financial year as there are various events in the next couple of years and we need to prepare for them,” Asif said.

When asked about the details of Pakistan contingent's departure for Tokyo, Asif said the POA has not yet shared with the Board the contingent final list. “We are yet to receive the final list. Once we get it we will manage the things,” said Asif, a former squash player.

A few Olympic slots of Pakistan are yet to be confirmed. The Olympic fate of the martial arts gurus Saadi Abbas (karate) and Olympian Shah Hussain (judo) will be known in a few days. Some players are waiting for the IOC places. These slots will be confirmed by the end of this month.