ISLAMABAD: The portfolio of sports ministry, which is considered as one of the most important positions in the western world, is still neglected in Pakistan as during the first phase of the formation of new Federal Cabinet on Tuesday, no member was made in-charge of sports sector.

Sport does not have an exclusive ministry in Pakistan rather it is part of the Ministry of Inter-provincial Coordination (IPC) which was headed by Dr Fehmida Mirza during the previous government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Confusion remains regarding the appointment of IPC minister in the Cabinet of newly-elected Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

“We are working on this matter, it will be sorted out,” he said.

During the last few days, some media reports indicated that Ehsaan-ur-Rehman Mazari, a Pakistan People’s Party lawmaker from Sindh, will be made IPC minister. His name was also discussed in the PPP meetings.

According to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division, Mazari was made federal minister for human rights in the Cabinet. There are 31 federal ministers, three ministers of state and as many advisers to PM in the Cabinet which took oath at the President House on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the IPC ministry on its website welcomed Mazari as the IPC minster. When contacted, Mazari told Dawn that PPP had decided to give him the IPC ministry, but the notification stated he had been made federal minister for human rights.

On the other hand, government sources said the IPC ministry would be awarded to someone in the next few days. The process of the formation of federal cabinet was still in progress and in the second phase the remaining positions will be filled, they added.

The IPC minister, besides carrying out other official duties, also looks after the affairs of sports sector including the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB).

The upcoming minister will have to take a number of important steps to bring improvement in the country’s sports sector.

One of the urgent and most pressing tasks of the incoming IPC minister will be the 2023 South Asian Games which Pakistan will host. As many as 5,000 athletes and officials are expected to participate in the seven-nation regional games expected to be staged during March.

The implementation of the new sports policy, which was approved by the PTI government during its last days in power, will also be a challenge for the new IPC minister as many sports federations have raised their voice against the new sports policy.

Moreover, the new minister will also have to take steps for the revival of departmental sports, to provide jobs to promising players.

On the field abroad, Pakistan’s athletes this year will be featuring in three prominent international sports events – Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in July-August, Islamic Solidarity Games (Konya, August) and the Asian Games (Hangzhou, September).

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2022