Holistic sports policy to be formulated for sports, athletes’ development: Fehmida

Fehmida appreciated athletes Haidar Ali and Arshad Nadeem for keeping country’s flag high

ISLAMABAD (APP) – Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Dr Fehmida Mirza Friday said a holistic sports policy would be formulated for the development of sports and professional uplift of the athletes.

“It will be a unified sports policy. We’ll take on board all the four provinces and other stakeholders and incorporate their recommendations in it,” she said while talking to media after a reception in the honour of athletes Haidar Ali and Arshad Nadeem.

Haidar won two gold and one bronze medals in the third Paralympics, while Arshad claimed bronze medal in the 18th Asian Games in javelin throw after a gap of 27 years.

The minister said after the 18th constitutional amendment sports had become a provincial subject adding that two provinces – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab had almost finalized their sports policies while Balochistan and Sindh would also be asked to work towards that direction.

She said a meeting of provincial sports ministers would be held in Islamabad next week to discuss ways to develop sports in the country. “Formulation of sports policy would also be discussed in that meeting”, she said.

Fehmida appreciated athletes Haidar Ali and Arshad Nadeem for keeping country’s flag high through their remarkable performance.

She also hailed Haidar and Arshad’s coach for putting in all his efforts to train them. She said a summary for been forwarded to the Prime Minister for grant of rewards to medal-winning athletes.

Fehmida noted that sports had never been a priority in Pakistan and funding for sports had always been very low. She underlined the need for public-private partnership for encouraging the sportspersons.

“We all need to work together for encouragement of our athletes and betterment of sports in the country”, she added.