POA chief keen to restore Pak image

Arif Saeed addresses Executive Committee after taking charge

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The President of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), Arif Saeed, has stressed the need for collective efforts to restore Pakistan's positive global image through sports and to rebuild the trust of the international sports community in the country.

He expressed these views while addressing a gathering of members of the Executive Committee at the Pakistan Olympic House in Lahore after assuming his responsibilities as President.

He said these efforts are crucial for paving the way for the revival of international sports in Pakistan.

The meeting was attended by POA Secretary General Muhammad Khalid Mahmood, Vice Presidents Major (Retd.) Majid Wasim and Andleeb Sandhu, Deputy Secretary General Muhammad Jahangir, Finance Secretary Ahmar Malick, Associate Secretary General Tahmina Asif, representatives of Olympic sports Hafiz Imran Butt and Muhammad Arshad Sattar, Executive Vice President of the National Rifle Association of Pakistan Javed Lodhi, President of the Softball Federation of Pakistan Asif Azeem, and Secretary General of the Islamabad Olympic Association Rizwan-ul-Haq Razi.

President Arif Saeed remarked that Pakistan has witnessed a golden era in sports in the past, during which it held world championship titles in cricket, hockey, snooker, and squash simultaneously. He acknowledged that ups and downs are a part of sports and, though no one remains at the top forever, continuous efforts to improve are essential.

He further emphasised the POA's steadfast commitment to advocating on every platform to ensure that sports and athletes in Pakistan receive the recognition they rightfully deserve. "The association is dedicated to fostering harmonious relationships and collaborating with all stakeholders, including the Pakistan Sports Board, to achieve its mission of revitalizing the sports sector in the country with unwavering resolve," he said.

Addressing the office bearers of various sports federations, Arif Saeed urged them to prioritise submitting their proposals for promoting sports at both international and national levels within the first 100 days and over the next year. "These proposals would be key to outlining actionable steps for the advancement and development of sports in Pakistan," he said.