In a strong display of commitment to transforming Pakistan’s sports landscape, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a crucial meeting in Islamabad with the President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Senior Vice President of FIFA, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa. The meeting underscores the government’s keen interest in elevating the sport of football in the country.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended a warm welcome to the AFC President and commended the AFC’s active and effective role under Sheikh Salman’s leadership in advancing football across Asia.
During the discussion, the Prime Minister highlighted the government’s initiatives for sports promotion nationwide, affirming that the administration is committed to providing equal development opportunities for youth in all sports, including football.
Sharif expressed a specific interest in AFC’s collaboration to promote football in remote areas of Pakistan, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. His proposals included the provision of coaches and referees, the establishment of world-class stadiums and national training centers, and the creation of specialized talent pathways to nurture young potential. Furthermore, the Prime Minister expressed the desire to host AFC matches in Pakistan in the future.
Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa thanked the Prime Minister for the unparalleled hospitality extended to him and reiterated AFC’s commitment to supporting the development of football in Pakistan.
