PFF has organised a course for female referees which will help them progress through international ranks. -AFP Photo

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Secretary General Lt.Col (R) Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi said on Tuesday that referees are an important part of the game adding that females becoming referees is great.

“Female referees are vital and as the popularity of women football continues to grow across Pakistan, the demand for match officials is increasing. It can be a very rewarding challenge and encouraging as well and significantly contributes to the development of the game,” Lodhi told APP.

He said that in this regard PFF had organised Women Referee Consolidating Course at FIFA House, Ferozpur Road, Lahore that will run until April 15.

“Instructors Salah Uddin Awan and Arif Siddiqui are helping in running the course.

“Women's Football is the fastest growing sport in the country. PFF has created a pathway that will allow female referees to progress through the ranks to International status by only refereeing women's football,” Lodhi concluded.

“The course is very relaxed and there is minimal physical activity involved so if you want to keep fit then this may be the course for you. PFF have an excellent support network to help the women achieve their ambitions,” added Referee Manager Qazi Asif who controlled Women Matches in the 1990 Asian Games at Beijing as a FIFA Referee.

Laila Zafar, one of the seven participants from Lahore others being Saiqa Waris, Fehmida Ayub, Shazia Ramzan, Sabiha Khalil, Saima Majeed, Bushra Khanam said, “I always try to be the best in what I do and I hope that I can prove this here too.”

Rawalpindi's Sehrish Tariq another participant said that she hopes to become the first female referee to supervise the final of the National Women’s Championship.