LAHORE - Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) president Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat has said that the ‘FIFA Forward Programme’ is vital for football revival in Pakistan.

Talking to The Nation, he said: “The FIFA Forward Programme is a football development programme of very high value, the core feature of which is to provide tailor-made solutions to the FIFA member associations. The time is high when we need such program to restructure football in the country and the timely assistance from the FIFA and AFC through this program will surely help us achieve our goals and start our work from scratch to bring Pakistan football to higher level.”

It is worth mentioning here that FIFA mission headed by its Director of Member Associations for Asia and Oceania Sanjeevan Balasingam reached the country Friday to brief the PFF on the FIFA Forward Development Programme, the main objective of which was to discuss how best could the PFF benefit from the FIFA Forward Programme which was launched back in 2016 through which FIFA has substantially increased its financial support and assistance for its member associations.

The FIFA mission arrived the PFF headquarters to brief the PFF staff on the utility and technical aspects of FIFA Forward Program. The PFF staff was also apprised about the procedures to be followed and the requirements to be fulfilled while claiming the FIFA Forward Program Funds.

The PFF president warmly welcomed the FIFA delegates and thanked the FIFA president Gianni Infantino for sending the FIFA officials to support PFF through FIFA Forward Programme. “The PFF is grateful to the FIFA president for his keen interest in the development of football in Pakistan. We are satisfied that my request to FIFA for sending a delegation to discuss the overall development of the game in Pakistan is met immediately,” Faisal said.

In the discussion for the commencement of FIFA Forward Program in Pakistan, the PFF was represented by its vice president Sardar Naveed Haider Khan, secretary Lt Col (R) Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi, Director Finance, Director Admin, Deputy General Secretary, Technical Director and Head League Development and Media.

Discussing the FIFA Forward Program, FIFA Director Member Associations Sanjeevan Balasingam said that the initiative by FIFA is a good opportunity for the PFF. “This is a significant opportunity for the PFF to first recuperate from the losses occurred due to the stoppage of the game since 3 years and then take football in Pakistan to new heights by utilizing the FIFA Forward Program support,” he said.

PFF vice president Sardar Naveed Haider Khan welcomed the FIFA delegates on behalf of the PFF president. Highlighting the importance of the timing of FIFA delegation’s visit, Naveed said these are important days for the PFF which is working hard to revive football in Pakistan. “These are very crucial times as we are in the planning phase and the direction set here will matter for the development of the game in future. In this regard, FIFA’s support to Pakistan football through the FIFA Forward Program at this moment will be very vital,” he added.

PFF secretary Lt Col (R) Lodhi said the recent initiative launched by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, in shape of the FIFA Forward Program, will help the PFF in the much-needed football development in Pakistan as it provides sufficient funds to revive football as per the vision of football development recently approved by PFF EXCO in its meeting held on March 17, 2018.