PAKISTAN once enjoyed a vibrant sports culture, but over time things have gone south, limiting not only our international successes, but also opportunities for fitness, youth engagement and social cohesion. However, a visible cultural shift is taking place among the younger generations, with more young people engaging in sports, fitness routines and gym-based training. This is not merely a passing trend, but a positive societal development that, if supported, can lay the foundation for a healthier and more active nation.

As the theme of this year’s World Intellectual Property Day (26 April) — IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate — high-lights, modern sport is sustained not only by talent, but also by intellectual property (IP) frameworks, broadcasting rights, branding, design and data, which convert sporting excellence into long-term economic value when properly protected and managed. However, meaningful progress requires proactive government intervention. Targeted incentives, such as tax breaks for sports facilities, subsidies for grassroots academies, and investment in accessible public infrastructure, can significantly accelerate participation.

In the broader economic context, such spending should be viewed as preventive rather than burdensome. By promoting physical activity and healthier lifestyles, the state can over time reduce its expenditure on treating non-communicable diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes.

Moreover, structured engagement in sports and fitness can serve as a powerful social safeguard. Providing youth with accessible and constructive outlets not only channels their energy productively, but also helps in curbing the rise of harmful behaviours, including involvement in illegal drug culture. In this sense, invest-ment in sports is not merely recreational; it is preventative, developmental and protective.

A coordinated policy that integrates sports development with IP protection, while simultaneously investing in youth infrastructure and incentives, can revive traditional disciplines, such as hockey, squash, football and boxing, alongside emerging sports, like padel.

Such an approach offers a practical pathway to restoring Pakistan’s sporting legacy, while ensuring a much healthier, more resilient and socially stable future.

Karimullah Adeni
Karachi

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2026