PM urges sports federations to ‘shun politics’

Says successful holding of game speaks of improved law and order situation

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Friday directed the sports federations to ‘come out of politics’ and strive to help Pakistan win medals in the next Olympics.

“It is a matter of shame when the world sees the world’s fifth largest country not winning any medal in the Olympics,” he lamented, while addressing the closing ceremony of the Second Quaid-i-Azam Interprovincial Games held at the Sports Complex in Islamabad.

The ceremony was also attended by Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Riaz Hussain Pirzada, Minister for SAFRON Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch and top officials of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB).



According to a press release, the prime minister congratulated the ministry and the PSB for holding the event, as well as those who won medals in the games. He said besides winning medals, the real achievement was to take part in the sports representing their respective provinces.

“Athletes must examine the existing standards of the games in the world and should struggle to meet those standards,” said Abbasi.

He said it was pleasing that such mega sports events were being held in the country consequent to the restoration of peace. It was due to the collective efforts of the army, government, police and the nation that led to the organisation of such activities, he told the athletes.

The prime minister recalled that earlier, the sports event could not be held in fear of any untoward incidents. After improvement in the law and order situation now, sports events had not only been held in Islamabad, but also in Balochistan and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

He expressed the hope that the ministry and the sports board would make these games a permanent feature to provide athletes with opportunities to exhibit their skills. He said the government was trying to promote the sports culture, besides improving the infrastructure and facilities.

Abbasi said due to the efforts of the minister and secretary of the concerned department, Pakistan’s first sports university would be established shortly as the project was approved. He hoped that the athletes would achieve further targets in their sports career after the establishment of the university.



The athletes from across the country won a total 574 medals. In the competition, Punjab stood first by clinching 74 gold medals, followed by Balochistan with 26 and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa with 21.

Of a total 151 medals, Punjab also bagged 46 silver and 31 bronze. Balochistan won 86 medals, including 26 gold, 22 silver and 38 bronze.

The teams from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa bagged 94 medals which included 21 gold, 24 silver and 49 bronze. Sindh managed to bag 89 medals which included 20 gold, 26 silver and 43 bronze, while Fata won 42 medals including seven gold, 13 silver and 22 bronze.

Islamabad teams could only manage to bag 62 medals featuring six gold, 15 silver and 41 bronze. Gilgit-Baltistan won 27 medals including four gold, seven silver and 16 bronze while the AJK’s 23 medals included one gold, five silver and 17 bronze.