ISLAMABAD, March 8: Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali on Monday urged the Pakistani athletes due to take part in this month's SAF Games to work hard and announced cash incentives for them.

"Any athlete, male or female, winning a gold medal will be awarded Rs 1 million while the silver medallists will get Rs 0.5 million," Jamali announced amid loud cheers from the athletes at the Liaquat Gymnasium. Those who land bronze will be richer by Rs 0.2 million.

"My experience in sports tells me that sports should be treated as sports. If you win, be modest and if you are beaten, don't lose heart and continue to work hard," he said.

He called on the athletes to be disciplined. "This is important because an indisciplined sportsman cannot succeed." Jamali recalled how he as the chef de mission to the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics along with Nur Khan and Brig Atif had wept with joy as the national anthem was played after Pakistan won the hockey gold. "This is the importance of sports."

He said that there was need to carry out a self-analysis as to why Pakistan couldn't now produce the fastest man in Asia. The prime minister praised Lt. Gen Syed Arif Hasan, the SAF Games chief, for having done well by making excellent arrangements for the successful hosting of the event. "When someone does well, it should be appreciated."

He said he was willing to extend support to SAF Games organizers, if it was required and promised to direct Pakistan Television (PTV) to set aside special time for covering the events in the lead-up to the Games.