PQA winds up sports sections

Either as an after effect of the end of Imran Khan's government or a planned effort to bring administrative efficiency, the Port Qasim Authority has closed its sports section and denotified its cricket, hockey, and football teams.

Instead of playing as professional athletes for the department, the players were called to work in the office, officials of PQA told Daily Express.

As per an official order issued on April 12 by the PQA Human Resource Management Department Directo, the sports section of the institution has been terminated immediately.

Players were instructed to approach the office with their credentials for assignment to office responsibilities.

These players will be appointed to approved office posts according to their academic ability and qualifications.

Sources said that this decision will affect dozens of cricket, hockey, and football players in PQA.

The players include former test captain Rashid Latif, former Test cricketers Muhammad Sami, Shadab Kabir, Asim Kamal, Khurram Manzoor, and Abdul Rauf. Two-time hockey Olympian Kashif Jawad is also among the victims.

Sources further said that the football team consisting of employees of the company will be sent back to their respective fields. Meanwhile, Khalil Chandio, a spokesman for the organisation, did not pick up the phone despite repeated attempts to contact him to ascertain his position, while Assistant PRO Nadeem said that he has no authority to give any sort of opinion on this issue.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 13^th, 2022.