KARACHI: The Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) has constituted a POA Environmental Commission (POAEC) in compliance of Article-XII of Constitution of POA and the decision taken in the POA Executive Committee meeting held on Feb 22 this year.

A POA notification issued on Monday read: “Lt. Gen (R) Syed Arif Hasan HI(M), President, Pakistan Olympic Association is pleased to constitute the POA Environmental Commission (POAEC). One of the fundamental objectives of the Olympic Movement alongside sport and culture is conservation of resources and environment for sustainable development of Olympism. The IOC recognizes the importance of the environment and sustainable development and has included this aspect in its Mission and Role.”

The role of the POAEC is to advise to POA Executive Committee on policy formulation that POA should adopt for environmental protection and support for sustainable development. The Commission will study and equip POA and its member units through POA Executive Committee, with the information and guidelines relating policies, functions and decisions relevant forums like IOC Sports and Environment Commission and OCA Sports and Environment Committee.

The Commission comprises President PTF/Member OCA Sports and Environment Committee Lt. Col. Waseem Ahmad will be the Chairman, Secretary General PTTF Ahmer Malick as Deputy Chairman while members of commission include environment expert Ayesha Siddiq, Secretary Balochistan Karate Association Babar Iqbal, President KP Baseball Association Dr. Nauman ul Haq, Vice President Sindh Olympic Association Tehmina Asif and Member POA Athletes Commission Najia Rasool. Secretary General POA Muhammad Khalid Mahmood will work as Secretary of POAEC.

In order to professionally strengthen the Commission, four more environmental experts — one each from Balochistan, KP, Punjab and Sindh — shall be taken on POAEC on its recommendations and approval of President POA.

Published in Dawn, August 11th, 2020