ISLAMABAD: The Government has taken a major step this week and has reconstituted the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), reducing it to just 11 members from the previous strength of 35 members. On June 18, the Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) notified that an 11-member board which is supposed to take policy decisions on sports in the country have been formed.

The officials of the newly formed PSB are optimistic about playing their due role for promotion of sports in the country during the coming months. The various PSB officials Dawn spoke to on Tuesday said that the newly formed 11-member board will prove effective for the promotion of sports in the country. PSB spokesperson Azam Dar also said that he is pinning high hope on the new board which will hold its first meeting soon to draw the road map for future course of action.

However, what is surprising is that the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has no role in the board. The board is headed by minister in charge of the administrative division which currently is Minister IPC. Other members who comprise the new sports board include Secretary IPC, DG PSB, Chairman Higher Education Commission, Managing Director Nespak or his nominee, President or Secretary of Pakistan Athletics Federation, President or Secretary Pakistan Football Association, President or Secretary of Sports Control Board and President POA. Two prominent businessmen of the country - Aqeel Kareem Dhedhi and Shafiq Abbasi, who is Chairman of a well-known pharmaceutical company, are also part of new board.

IPC minister to head the new PSB

“Earlier, the PSB could not have frequent meetings since it was difficult to have all the 35 members available for them at one time and therefore the issues lingered on. However, now the the newly formed board is set to hold regular meetings,” said Azam Dar on Tuesday.

He appreciated IPC Minister Dr Fehmida Mirza for playing her strong role in formation of the new board. Azam further said that a committee had already been formed in the 88th Executive Committee meeting of PSB on June 8 to review the existing National Sports Policy 2005 in line with the 18th Constitutional amendments and will start its work very soon.

When asked as to why the IPC ministry and the government not appointing a regional DG PSB as this important post is lying vacant since February 2018 after the retirement of Akhtar Ganjera, Azam said that due to litigation, the appointment of DG is facing delay.

It may be mentioned here that the IPC ministry has been running PSB through interim and adhoc arrangements since February by giving additional charge to officers of the ministry. Sources in PSB said that inordinate delay in appointment of DG have raised several eyebrows in sports circles.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2020