ISLAMABAD: The President of Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Ehsan-ur-Rehman Mazari has withdrawn the nomination of the Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) from the PSB Governing Board with immediate effect.
The decision to withdraw the nomination of the President/secretary AFP from the PSB Board was taken under the constitutional powers conferred under sub-rule 1 (f) and sub rule 3 of the rule 5 of the constitution of the PSB 2022.
The AFP has recently been re-inducted in the PSB Board following its re-structuring. The AFP was the only federation retaining its position on the PSB Board.
It is not yet clear as to which federation will now replace AFP on the PSB Board. The decision is expected within weeks.
Meanwhile, the PSB Board meeting has again been delayed and will now be held on April 7. Early, the Board meeting was scheduled for April 3 but with the recent approval of the National Sports Policy, it will now be held on April 7.
The Board will now consist of Minister in Charge of the administrative Division (Ehsan-ur-Rehman Mazari-President), Secretary of the Administrative Division (Vice President).
Members: President Pakistan Olympics Association (POA), Director General Pakistan Sports Board, Chairman Higher Education Commission, Managing Director NESPAK or his nominee not below BPS-20 officer or equivalent, President Pakistan Cycling Federation, Faratullah Babar and Rashid Malik.
Among other issues the Board meeting would take up the measures regarding almost fifty percent cut on the PSB quarterly instalment by the Finance Division and hence far less resources to invest on athletes and to pay to federations as annual grants. Decisions are expected to be taken to generate revenues of the PSB through different sources.
PSB was established under the Ministry of Education through the Sports (Development and Control) Ordinance, 1962 as a corporate body for the purposes of promoting and developing uniform standards of competition in sports in Pakistan comparable to the standards prevailing internationally, and regulating and controlling sports in Pakistan on a national basis.
PSB is the premier authority to control and promote sports in the country and also acts as an executing agency to implement the government policies.
PSB has a wide range of sporting facilities at its Headquarters and Coaching Centers at Provincial Headquarters. These facilities are primarily used for national training camps and holding of various national and international competitions. In addition, these facilities are also extended to general public on normal membership basis.
Abdul Mohi Shah Abdul Mohi Shah is a senior reporter for The News