LAHORE: The Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) has proposed a performance-based funding system for national sports federations under the proposed National Sports Policy 2026, arguing that government grants should be linked to sporting activity and results rather than individual office-bearers.
The proposal comes as the government seeks feedback on the draft sports policy, which has been circulated among national sports federations. The recommendation is aimed at improving accountability and strengthening sports development ahead of major international competitions, including the Asian Games and Olympic events.
Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, POA President Arif Saeed said the association had prepared a document based on Qatar’s sports funding model and would submit it to the government as part of the consultation process.
According to Arif, the proposed framework would classify federations into different categories based on the quality and volume of their activities. Funding allocations would then be determined by performance and participation levels rather than administrative considerations.
He said many federations currently organize only one senior and one junior national championship each year, which he described as insufficient for long-term athlete development and competitive success.
Call for government-federation cooperation
Arif stressed that meaningful progress in Pakistan’s sports sector requires cooperation between government institutions and sports federations. He welcomed the government’s decision to formulate a new sports policy and said collaborative efforts would be necessary to improve sporting standards.
He also acknowledged that challenges facing sports in Pakistan cannot be attributed solely to government policies, noting that some sports administrators have also failed to contribute effectively to development efforts.
Commenting on a proposal within the draft policy to allocate two percent of federal and provincial development budgets to sports, Arif described the recommendation as positive but said effective implementation would be critical to achieving results.
Focus on youth development
The POA president emphasized the importance of regular youth competitions to identify and nurture emerging talent. He cited recent examples in cricket where players progressed from youth-level competitions to the national team.
He said consistent investment in junior and youth sports programmes could help strengthen Pakistan’s future performance across multiple disciplines.
Asian Games preparations continue
The press conference was also attended by a delegation from the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), which is visiting Lahore in connection with a Fun Run event promoting the 20th Asian Games, scheduled to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, in September 2027.
OCA delegation head Hiroshi Sakai said the initiative aims to promote friendship, unity, excellence, and healthy living while increasing public awareness of the Asian Games across the region.
Meanwhile, POA Secretary Khalid Mahmood said the Pakistan Sports Board had agreed to sponsor 123 athletes and officials for the Asian Games. He added that 23 national sports federations had expressed interest in participating, while several others planned to attend on a self-financed basis.
According to Mahmood, Pakistan is expected to send between 235 and 250 athletes and officials to the Asian Games.
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