ISLAMABAD - Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Dr Fehmida Mirza has said that the present government is committed for the promotion of sports in the country and will take every possible step to restore the fast-declining standard of athletes in general and sports in particular.
IPC Minister Fehmida Mirza expressed this while talking to the journalists here at Pakistan Sports Complex on Monday after kick-starting the ‘Tree Plantation Campaign’ at the PSB. “It hurts me badly when I saw Pakistani athletes are nowhere in the world stage. Hockey is our national game, but we failed to qualify for Olympics and World Cup and didn’t win any major title for the last several years.
“I was also a athlete during my college and university days and I had won lot of medals. On the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan, I will hold meeting with Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) on September 6 and will seek detailed report, as we had invested millions of rupees and I don’t feel we are even near to what we were expecting in return,” she added.
She said she will invite sports journalists for an exclusive meeting to seek suggestions and will implement those in true letter and spirit. “The role of sports journalists can’t be minimised as they are doing tremendous job of keeping an eye on the present state of federations. I will not tolerate any wrongdoing and will ensure PSB play its due role and keep a very close eye on non-performing federations.”
The Minister said: “The day is not far, when Pakistani athletes will deliver and rise in the world of sports. I have taken the ministry as a challenge and I will deliver, it is my promise. My doors are always open for positive suggestions. The PSB will facilitate each and every individual and I am very happy for our pride daughter Nargis, who won bronze medal in Asian Games karate. I assured her and other athletes of my all-out support on behalf of government, as our PM is a sportsman and he has chalked out comprehensive plan to take Pakistani sports upwards.”
“We will have to work on promotion of sports and culture to build soft image of Pakistan at international level. We have to take our country towards betterment especially in the field of sports,” she added.
Fehmida said that the national sports policy will be formed in consultation with all the stakeholders while the media will also be taken into confidence in this regard. She also urged the electronic media to play its role for the promotion of sports in the country by airing at least one-hour sports programmes on daily basis.
The Minister said she will emphasise on giving maximum time at her office located in the PSB. “I will regularly meet with sports persons and try to meet all their genuine demands. We will provide the best coaches, facilities, training to the top performers. The non-performers have no space in the PSB and a stern action will be taken against the violators.
“The PSB will do whatever athletes, coaches and federation demand, but we expect them to return our faith in the best possible manner. I don’t mind if they don’t bring medals immediately, but they must show the fighting skills,” she added.