LAHORE: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) on Monday unveiled a sweeping nationwide plan aimed at reviving domestic football through district-level championships, expanded youth competitions, strengthened provincial and regional administration, and grassroots development programmes.

The roadmap was announced at a press conference addressed by PFF Chief Operating Officer Shahid Niaz Khokhar, alongside Media Director Umaid Wasim.

Shahid said the plan had been developed in consultation with all four provincial football associations, regional bodies and other stakeholders, adding that implementation was tentatively scheduled to begin in July.

He stressed that district-level competitions would form the backbone of the new structure and were essential for producing competitive national teams across all age groups.

“District championships will help identify talented players, strengthen local football ecosystems and create clear pathways for footballers to progress through the national system,” he said.

Under the initiative, the PFF will launch District Football Championships (DFCs) across the country, which will also be used to identify constitutionally compliant clubs and weed out inactive or non-existent entities from the domestic structure. The federation said it would extend full support to ensure smooth organisation of the events.

To support implementation, the Pakistan Football Referees Association (PFRA) has been tasked with preparing an updated database of registered referees for district football associations.

The federation also announced administrative reforms at provincial and regional levels, including the appointment of dedicated general secretaries to improve governance and operational efficiency.

Under the approved framework, Provincial and Regional Football Associations will submit a panel of three candidates for the post. Joint interviews will then be conducted by the PFF and the relevant association president before final appointments are made, Shahid explained.

He added that funding for the initiative had been secured from FIFA and the AFC through the efforts of PFF President Syed Mohsen Gilani.

Youth development remains a key pillar of the roadmap, with preparations under way for the National Under-17 Championship, tentatively scheduled for September–October.

Under the proposed format, each Provincial Football Association will field two teams, while each Regional Football Association will enter one. Players born between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2012, will be eligible, with departmental players also allowed to participate.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2026