ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary panel of the National Assembly on Monday was informed that necessary amendments to the Constitution of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) were required to bring it in accordance with the FIFA directions.
The 14th meeting of the Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination, which was held in Islamabad under acting chairman MNA Sheikh Aftab Ahmed, besides other agenda items discussed the PFF affairs.
A PFF representative briefing the Committee at the meeting stated that in accordance with FIFA directions and the prescribed procedure, the federation’s elections were conducted after which a new body was constituted, which was currently functional.
The committee was informed that in accordance with FIFA’s directions and international best practices, necessary amendments to the PFF Constitution were required to bring its constitutional and administrative framework into greater alignment with FIFA’s requirements and international standards.
The committee was told that the newly-elected body of the PFF was expected to ensure the required compliance and implementation of FIFA directions.
The PFF representative further emphasised that special attention towards grassroots uplift was essential for promoting the sport, identifying new talent and developing players across the country.
Meanwhile, all the provincial sports secretaries, including those from the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), briefed the committee on the measures taken in their respective regions for promoting sports, achievements made in various disciplines, ongoing initiatives and talent hunt programmes.
The provincial secretaries also briefed the committee regarding the allocation and distribution of funds given by the provincial governments for sports, players’ training and participation in various sports activities, expenses incurred on athletes, the ongoing Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) and other projects.
While acknowledging the briefings, the committee emphasised the need for stronger and more effective measures for lifting sports at the grassroots and for establishing a sustainable chain of talented athletes.
The committee stressed that the identification and talent hunt process be expanded to school, college, tehsil, district and division levels so that talented players from different parts of the country — including remote and underserved areas -- could be identified and provided with appropriate training, facilities and opportunities to progress to national and international levels and bring laurels to Pakistan.
The committee also underscored that the provincial governments needed to be effectively taken on board and that strong coordination, cooperation and communication between the PFF and provincial governments were essential.
The sports sector should not be neglected, and adequate, need-based funds should be allocated for its development, the body urged.
The committee, on the occasion, directed that available resources be utilised effectively and transparently, with particular focus on talent hunt programmes, athletes’ training, coaching and participation in national and international events.
Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2026
