Abdul Jabbar Faisal
ISLAMABAD (October 21, 2021):-Senator Irfan-ul-Haq Siddiqui, newly elected Convener of the sub-Committee on the Senate Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC), said that a sports revolution was . He was chairing first meeting at Parliament House.
Senator Irfan-ul-Haq Siddiqui was elected Convener of the Committee unanimously by the other two members of the sub-Committee -- Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmed and Senator Gurdeep Singh.
Convener Committee, Senator Irfan-ul-Haq Siddiqui added, “sports is the most neglected sector by the Government in Pakistan and that this Committee would work beyond party lines ensuring that Pakistani sports reaches new heights and its previous glories restored, “while further adding he urged the media to assist the Committee in this cause, terming this a great service to Pakistan, enhancing its soft image in the world.
According to an official press release, the agenda of the sub-Committee entailed discussion regarding the work-plan of the Committee. Members reminiscence the grandeurs of the past and attributed it to sportspersons being sponsored by different government departments. It was asserted that for sports to prosper in Pakistan it was essential that the welfare of sportspersons is prioritised. The Committee stressed the need for ensuring that every school in the country boasted a playground. This would be an important step towards promoting sports at the grassroots level in Pakistan that would generate heroes in the future.
The Committee decided that Pakistani sports would benefit greatly if Local Bodies step in to ensure that all urban and rural vicinities are allotted a playgrounds. The government must incentivize sports in the Country to provide sportspersons with initiative. Employing sportspersons would secure their future that is crucial for the development of sports in Pakistan.
The work plan of the Committee would entail reviewing the strengths, weaknesses, accomplishments and challenges of Sports Federations affiliated with the Pakistan Sports Board via a performa created to review details minutely. The Committee was of the view that a criterion for the Minister for Sports must be devised by the Committee to ensure that the right person is granted Office. A forensic audit of all 41 Sports Federations listed by the Pakistan Sports Board along with the Pakistan Olympic Association was stressed.
Talking to the media after the formal meeting Convener Committee, Senator Irfan-ul-Haq Siddiqui, welcomed suggestions regarding improvement of sports in Pakistan. He added that after every meeting an informal ‘one on one’ session with the Media for recommendations will be conducted to improve the sports scenario in Pakistan. The Media recommended that the Pakistan Sports Board must be summoned to get a clear picture of the sports landscape in Pakistan. They added that Olympians must be invited to get a firsthand account of the challenges they face in the Country.
