Lahore:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif underlined Pakistan’s commitment on Sunday to take advantage of sports as a powerful tool of national growth and world harmony.
In his message on the occasion of International Sports Day for Development and Peace, the Prime Minister declared that Pakistan is united with the international community by recognizing the transformer power of sports to promote a positive change, eliminate obstacles and promote unity beyond borders.
Stressing the role of sports in the empowerment of young people and national development, he said: “Sports serve as an effective means of advancing our society and projecting the identity of Pakistan on the world. This is why our government has declared that sport has a key pillar of its development program.” He explained that national sports policy is focused on the participation of the base, the discovery of talents, gender equality and inclusiveness. Citing initiatives like Ashad Nadeem / Shehbaz Sharif High-Performance Academy, he said that the objective was to equip young athletes with scientific training, financial support and modern facilities to help them meet future challenges.
The Prime Minister stressed the importance of good governance in sports, declaring: “We believe that strong governance is the foundation of prosperous sports institutions.” He added that the government is implementing reforms to improve transparency, responsibility and professionalism within national sports federations, ensuring the selection of athletes based on merit and ethical conduct.
He also mentioned the preparations for Pakistan for the 14th Southern Asian Games in 2026 and the efforts to organize national training camps as part of his vision to establish the country as a regional center of sports and tourism excellence.
By concluding his message, the Prime Minister urged all stakeholders – including civil society and development partners – to integrate sport into policies related to education, health, development and peace.
