ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination was informed that the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (MoIPC) has sought an additional Rs 6 billion as a technical supplementary grant from the Ministry of Finance for hosting the South Asian Federation (SAF) Games, which are scheduled to be held in Pakistan next year.
The Committee met here on Thursday with MNA Sheikh Aftab Ahmed in the chair.
The Secretary, Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC), briefed the Committee on the Ministry’s performance, ongoing initiatives, and measures for the promotion of sports in the country.
He informed that the Vice President of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) had committed to providing financial support for the establishment of at least two state-of-the-art football fields in Pakistan.
The Committee was also informed that Rs 1.94 billion has been allocated to the Ministry under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the upcoming financial year, representing a significant increase over the previous year’s allocation.
In addition, the Ministry has requested an extra Rs 6 billion from the government for the successful hosting of the SAF Games scheduled to be held in Pakistan next year.
The Secretary further informed the Committee that the National Coaching Training Programme will be launched next month to train young coaches and strengthen sports development at the grassroots level. He also highlighted that sports federations are organizing school-level competitions, implementing talent hunt programmes, and providing sports kits, hockey sticks, tracksuits, and other essential equipment to encourage young athletes. These initiatives are being supported through public-private partnerships and private sector investment.
Furthermore, the daily allowances of national athletes representing Pakistan abroad have been
increased threefold, while Pakistan’s missions overseas have been directed to actively engage with and facilitate national athletes to ensure their professional development and well-being.
The Committee expressed concern that the majority of sports training camps and facilities continue to remain concentrated in Punjab and Islamabad. It emphasized that the headquarters and training centers of sports federations should be distributed equitably across all provinces to ensure equal opportunities for young athletes throughout the country.
The Committee also directed the Ministry to establish state-of-the-art sports complexes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan so that talented youth from these provinces may also benefit from modern training facilities and equal opportunities to excel at the national and international levels.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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