Lahore: President of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), Arif Saeed, has emphasized the importance of collective efforts to restore Pakistan’s positive global image through sports and rebuild the trust of the international sports community in the country. He highlighted these efforts as essential for reviving international sports in Pakistan during a gathering of the Executive Committee members at the Pakistan Olympic House in Lahore, marking his assumption of responsibilities as President.
According to Pakistan Olympic Association, the meeting saw the attendance of key officials including POA Secretary General Muhammad Khalid Mahmood, Vice Presidents Major (Retd.) Majid Wasim and Andleeb Sandhu, Deputy Secretary General Muhammad Jahangir, Finance Secretary Ahmar Malick, and others. President Saeed reflected on Pakistan’s past achievements in sports, citing its simultaneous world championship titles in cricket, hockey, snooker, and squash. He acknowledged the natural fluctuations in sports performance but stressed the necessity of continuous improvement efforts.
President Saeed affirmed the POA’s unwavering commitment to advocating for sports and athletes in Pakistan, emphasizing the importance of collaboration with stakeholders like the Pakistan Sports Board to revitalize the country’s sports sector. Addressing various sports federations’ officials, he urged the submission of proposals for sports promotion at both international and national levels. These proposals are intended to outline actionable steps for sports advancement in Pakistan. He also highlighted the IOC’s role in supporting athlete well-being globally and encouraged similar efforts by the POA and National Sports Federations within their domains.