ISLAMABAD, Oct 14: The Australian Deputy High Commissioner, Paul Molloy, and Pakistan Football Federation’s (PFF) general secretary Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi jointly held a press conference to mark the successful completion of PFF’s training and skill development programmes for Pakistani youth with the financial help of Australian government.

While talking to the media, Paul Molloy said: “I am delighted that the funding helped the PFF in implementing courses in eight schools at Lyari in Karachi and Gilgit.”

He said PFF’s projects were latest of the series of sporting projects which the Australian government has assisted over the past three years.

He added that the Australian government has provided more than Rs7 million to various sporting bodies, including Pakistan Cricket Board and Pakistan Netball Federation, since 2008.

The diplomat said: “Encouraging the young people of Pakistan to get involved in healthy activities is the key aim of the Sports Outreach Program and I feel very proud to announce that PFF’s camp has reached to about 1,678 kids which is a remarkable achievement by the PFF.”

He said it is our dream to see Pakistan become a football powerhouse like that of hockey, cricket and squash.

Replying to a query regarding transparency in utilisation of funds by the PFF, Molloy replied, “We have a check and balance system and we have monitored the whole situation and we have reached the conclusion that the PFF had utilised the funds in a transparent way.”

Ahmed Yar Lodhi appreciated the efforts of the Australian government and hoped that they would continue to provide the required assistance to not only PFF but to all other sports bodies of Pakistan.