Child footballers to get Rs300,000 from Sindh govt, Bilawal

E-Paper | March 18, 2026

KARACHI: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Patron-In-Chief of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) welcomed the Pakistan Street Children Football team to Bilawal House on Tuesday and personally congratulated each player for displaying brilliant performance at Street Child World Cup (SCWC) in Brazil.

He announced a cash reward of Rs100,000 for each player.

The young Pakistani players, belonging to underprivileged fragment of society, secured the bronze medal at the Street Child World Cup 2014 in Rio de Janeiro and returned home earlier on Tuesday.

Also read: Young heroes arrive from SCWC but snub crowd at airport

Bilawal, son of the slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto also announced that he has invited Argentina's legendary footballer Diego Maradona to coach the youngsters.

Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, Faryal Talpur, Jameel Soomro, Sherry Rehman, Qadir Patel, Sharmila Farouqi and other PPP leaders also attended the event.

The PPP chief greeted them individually and assured them that the party will bring revolutionary policies to promote sport activities across the country.

He encouraged them to continue their practice more vigorously to win more global events for Pakistan adding that Sindh government should take steps to promote sport activities and provide ample chances for talented sportsmen.

The team was earlier taken to the provincial assembly where information minister Sharjeel Memon announced prizes of Rs200,000 for each player.

FIFA initiated the tournament in 2010, with the first edition held in South Africa and the second in Rio de Janeiro ahead of the World Cup that begins in June– APP/AFP

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Pakistan

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Roger

Apr 08, 2014 10:31pm

Heartening to note that the government will be encouraging the street children with cash rewards and the proposed coaching from a legend like Maradona. Hopefully, someday, at least some of these children will grow up to represent your country. A great commitment on the part of Mr. Bhutto and the Sindh government! What remains is execution.

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Truth

Apr 08, 2014 10:33pm

Did Bilawal Bhutto Zardar or Zardarii, Patron-In-Chief of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) welcomed the Pakistan Naseem Ahmed to Bilawal House and personally congratulated her when a Pakistani athlete, who became the fastest woman in South Asia when she won a gold medal in the 100-metre event of the 11th South Asian Federation Games in Dhaka, Bangladesh on February 9, 2010. If not why not? What is a science behind it?

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Muzammil H Musani

Apr 08, 2014 10:49pm

I think media should promote them to the fullest ! Very proud !

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Faiz

Apr 08, 2014 11:07pm

@Roger: And we all know how effective the execution of PPP announcements given the last five years of PPP in power. It is a gimmick nothing else.

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IKnowIt

Apr 08, 2014 11:35pm

Hopefully, the federal government would also follow the suit.

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TKhan

Apr 08, 2014 11:45pm

So now you are going to give them the money; and they will feel rich and will go to Lal Qila and Barbeque Tonight in Clifton and Defense. They will get fat and lazy and slow down. The football will no longer be their pass time as it will be taken over by food, clothing and gazing fashionable girls from the elite area. I don't know what I am talking about, I probably would do the same. Alright enjoy while the Rs.100,000 last. And thank you for winning.

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APatel

Apr 09, 2014 12:13am

@Roger: This should have come from the Sindh government not from any Bhutto ( on behalf of Sindh Government ). This is how the Bhutto(s) has manipulated the public funds in the past also.

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aftab alam khan

Apr 09, 2014 12:40am

So young Bilawal attracted by the performance of the young street players announcing a timely cash award as well as inviting legendary footballer Marodona for coaching these buds to blossom on the world tree We need to encourage football playing and bring this street sport at par with other countries to offset the lost situation Pakistan ended up in Hokey and Cricket Tournaments.

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Ejaz Ahmed

Apr 09, 2014 12:45am

Mr.Bilawal Zardari, Did you give money from your own pocket or is this the money of the people of Pakistan ? If this is your money then this is good. If this is the money of the people of Pakistan then you have no right to give this in such a fashion. An official of Govt. of Sind should give the money. Mr. Bilawal, I have an advice for you. Please bring all your money that you and your family have accumulated and stashed in the foreign banks. Help poor people of Pakistan and be happy. This is the only way you can get real happiness. May Allah guide you and me and every one. Let us do some good for our country.

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Thumbs up

Apr 09, 2014 12:56am

Good job Bilawal and Sindh government here.

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Thumbs up

Apr 09, 2014 12:56am

Also congratulations to the winners!

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Daanish

Apr 09, 2014 01:25am

Interesting Bilawal is trying to take credit and paying out of our tax money. He should pay out of his deep pocket. Sindh government should pay first there delinquent water, electric bills. What a shame who is dreaming of running my country !!

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Shahryar Shirazi

Apr 09, 2014 01:43am

Did some one notice the Sindhi cap on these innocent kids ? I think PPP is just milking political gains out of this ...

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sheikh

Apr 09, 2014 02:19am

Kids need an education. Not Rs. 300,000 for playing a football. The priorities of PPP are baffling.

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Zohair

Apr 09, 2014 03:32am

I would like to point out that this football tournament was not about winning trophies. This is an initiative taken by a UK registered charity 'Street Child United' with the objective of providing a platform for children living on the streets across the globe an opportunity to express themselves and respond to negative stereotypes associated with children. Also would like to add that 'DAWN' as the nations most reputable english newspaper should verify its facts before publishing news. The Street Child World Cup was not initiated by 'FIFA' instead it was initiated by the AMOS Trust and Street Child United. Also the world cup will be help before every summer world cup. Thank you,

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faisals

Apr 09, 2014 05:17am

Amazing, Bilawal does not hold any office in Sindh government and still award tax payer money in reward as it is from his personal bank account.

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dawn

Apr 09, 2014 05:56am

Fair gesture but not quite an incentive.

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APatel

Apr 09, 2014 08:45am

@Thumbs up: Jeay Bhutto Marain Awaam

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Zia

Apr 09, 2014 09:01am

It should not end here only - football needs lot of patronage these days. These young guys must have learnt a lot during their recent experience. Put these boys on the watch list, create a camp for their further training and education is very important. Send them to a summer camp in Abbotabad or Murree hills - sustain expenses jointly from all provinces. Pakistan can start making a football team in the making. Most of the sports in Pakistan are killed due lack of patronage due no funding, no training and poverty. Give these young guys sense of protection and raise their standards of living and health conditions and see the results. Send these young ones to friendly countries for matches. This will broaden their exposure a tour of Europe will open their eyes seeing the football playing nations. I am sure with their deep interest they must be knowing a lot watching on the screen networks of the game. I wish them success and thanks to Bilawal's patronage. PM should come forward with another positive initiative for these young boys

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Furqan

Apr 09, 2014 09:38am

Why are they represented as "sindhi" by making them wear ajrak and sindhi topi. I think they are more of a Pakistani thn sindhi. Govt should have made them wear Pakistani flags instead of portraying them as sindhi.

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Pakistani

Apr 09, 2014 10:06am

Kudos to these young boys for bringing joy and pride to our country and thanks to the Sindh Government for appreciating their talent and applauding them over their victory. However I would urge the Sindh Government to provide these boys with educational scholarships and invest in building a sports complex to facilitate many a such young boys and girls to build their skills further. It will prove to be a much better investment as compared to the expense incurred during Sindh Festival!!!!

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Dr. Bajrani

Apr 09, 2014 10:57am

After ruining Mohenjodaro, an attempt to enhance PR!

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Fowez

Apr 09, 2014 02:13pm

"Bilawal Bhutto Zardari... announced a cash reward of Rs100,000 for each player." Why so cheap? Is his family's bank account (aka Pakistani Treasury) low in funds? What happened to the 1.5 billion gift to Nawaz Sharif?

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Ebrahim

Apr 09, 2014 06:35pm

Wish and pray that these footballers get the money, it is besides who is paying, it is highly unlikely that Bilawal will pay from his pockets although the amount is peanuts compared to the looted money he inherited from his parents. Best of luck to the footballers.

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gerry d'cunha

Apr 09, 2014 07:51pm

OMG, another false hopes for these poor child footballers to get Rs300,000 from the sindh govt - bring this matter in six months/one year's time, they will still be hanging in hopes - only toppi drama and photo shoot session. hyprocrates

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