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Business Recorder
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Age cap set for sports officials as PSB cracks down on non-compliant bodies
The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has introduced a 70-year upper age limit for office-bearers of national sports federations, cancelled the registrations of three non-compliant bodies, and approved key reforms including new funding regulations and an anti-age fraud policy aimed at protecting young athletes. The decisions were made at the 34th meeting of the PSB Board, held in Islamabad on Wednesday, and chaired by Advisor to the Prime Minister on Inter-Provincial Coordination, Rana Sanaullah Khan, the board said in a statement. In a major push for transparency and accountability, the Board approved the Sports Funding Regulations, set the groundwork for a contributory pension fund, and mandated that new federations be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP). PSB seeks explanation over 'misleading' gold medal claim by Netball Federation The Board cancelled the provisional registrations of the Chuckball, Paragliding & Hand Gliding, and Canoeing federations for failing to submit mandatory documentation after affiliation. Conditional registration was granted to the Basketball, Long Range, and Archery federations, with the Archery Federation also directed to verify its election process through PSB. The PSB also expressed serious displeasure over the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) for its continued failure to provide financial records and funding details. On the PHF's potential participation in the FIH Pro League, the Board authorised Rana Sanaullah to take the final decision and communicate with the Prime Minister through a formal letter outlining the federation's rationale and objectives. Other key decisions included assigning administrative oversight of futsal to the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) and referring the Blind Sports Federation's case to the Panel of Adjudicators. A subcommittee was formed to assess whether mountaineering should be included as a recognised national sport. The Board also formally approved an anti-age fraud policy for junior athletes, an initiative led by PSB Director General Muhammad Yasser Pirzada, aimed at ensuring merit-based selection and transparency in youth sports. Welcoming new Board members, Major General Irfan Arshad and Andleeb Sindhu, Rana Sanaullah said their experience would further enhance sports development. He added that presidents of sports federations would be specially invited to upcoming Board meetings to strengthen engagement. The PSB also moved to align pension matters with federal government policies as it approved the formation of a contributory pension fund to ease the long-term financial burden on the board.
India.com
03-07-2025
- Politics
- India.com
How India's BrahMos Strike On Nur Khan Airbase Brought Pakistan To The Brink
New Delhi: A single missile. Thirty seconds. That is all Pakistan had when India's BrahMos slammed into the Nur Khan Airbase – just minutes from Islamabad. No early warning. No clear warhead signature. No time to guess whether it carried a conventional payload or a nuclear one. Rana Sanaullah Khan, special assistant to Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, went public. He said that 30-second window nearly sparked a nuclear chain reaction. His words were not laced with bravado. They carried the tremor of a nation that found itself facing the unthinkable. "The Pakistani government had just 30-45 seconds to analyse whether the missile has any atomic payload. To make such a decision in just 30 seconds is a dangerous thing," Khan said during a televised interview. When India launched that BrahMos – what Khan mistakenly called 'Harmus' – the Pakistani high command scrambled. Inside Nur Khan, alarms rang. Pilots rushed to cockpits. Radar units lit up. In war rooms, generals debated retaliation. But the warhead was non-nuclear. Delhi was not pressing the red button yet. Still, that moment tore open Islamabad's biggest fear – a precise and rapid Indian strike that could knock out critical nodes before Pakistan had time to retaliate. Nur Khan is not any airbase. It lies inside a dense military ecosystem – adjacent to VIP terminals, near Islamabad's civilian airport and dangerously close to Pakistan's nuclear brain – the Strategic Plans Division. That division does not just manage warheads. It plans for survival. It monitors threats. It guards command centres. A hit this close, even with a conventional weapon, rattled nerves at the very top. Khan, in a recent interview, said U.S. President Donald Trump helped stop it from spiraling. He credits the former him with stepping in, easing tensions and pulling the region back from the edge. India has pushed back on that narrative. Officials say it was Pakistan's own DGMO who reached out first desperate to avoid escalation after the BrahMos strike exposed their air defenses. That night, Indian jets, apart from Nur Khan, targeted other airbases too. Runways were cratered. Refueling assets were disabled. By morning, Islamabad had lost air dominance over key northern sectors. And with each passing hour, Pakistan's retaliatory options narrowed. The Nur Khan base, once RAF Station Chaklala, has long been a high-value asset. It hosts Pakistan's key transport squadrons, refueling aircraft and serves as the main VIP air terminal for military brass and state leaders. More importantly, it is nestled in the shadow of Islamabad's strategic district where the lines between civilian governance and nuclear command blur. The base is also less than a dozen kilometers from what many believe are Pakistan's forward nuclear storage units. According to reports by The New York Times and other Western intelligence sources, Nur Khan base is critical to Pakistan's nuclear deployment network. That is what made the BrahMos impact so dangerous. It was not only a hole in a tarmac. It was a message – a demonstration of India's reach, precision and willingness to target assets deep inside enemy territory. Pakistan, which maintains a policy of ambiguity over its nuclear doctrine, had to read between the lines. Was this a decapitation attempt? A soft warning? Or a trial run for a bigger operation? Khan's admission changes the narrative. For the first time, a sitting Pakistani official has acknowledged how close the country came to misreading India's intent and launching something far more devastating in response. This was a moment where miscalculation could have meant mushroom clouds. India's no-first-use doctrine remains intact. But New Delhi has redefined how conventional superiority can be used for coercive diplomacy. A strike like Nur Khan is a geopolitical signal. As for Trump, Pakistan's Field Marshal Asim Munir has already floated the idea of a Nobel Peace Prize for him. That may be diplomatic theatre. But it also shows how rattled Rawalpindi was and how badly they wanted to de-escalate without looking weak. Today, Nur Khan base still stands. But its scars run deeper than concrete. They live in the brief seconds when Pakistan's leadership stared into the nuclear abyss and waited.
Express Tribune
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
36 sportspersons receive cash awards from PSB
RECOGNITION AT LAST: Prolific Special Olympics athlete Haider Ali receives Rs 5 million award from Advisor to PM on Inter-Provincial Coordination, Rana Sanaullah Khan. Federal Secretary Mohiuddin Wani and Director General PSB Muhammad Yasir Pirzada are also seen on the occasion. PHOTO: PSB In a prestigious ceremony held late on Wednesday, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) paid tribute to a number of national heroes who did the country proud through their outstanding performances in international competitions and events. Advisor to the Prime Minister on Inter-Provincial Coordination, Rana Sanaullah Khan, graced the event along with Federal Secretary Mohiuddin Wani and Director General PSB Muhammad Yasir Pirzada. A total of Rs. 8.2 million in cash awards was distributed among 36 athletes who excelled in various global events. Among the recipients, Haider Ali, the Paralympic champion, stood out with a PKR 5 million cash award in recognition of his bronze medal win at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. Javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem received Rs. 2 million for winning the gold medal at the Asian Championship, while his coach Salman Iqbal Butt received Rs. 600,000. In snooker, Muhammad Asif was awarded Rs. 500,000 for winning a gold medal at the SAARC Snooker Championship, Ahsan Ramzan was awarded Rs. 500,000 for securing a bronze medal in the U-21 Asian Championship, and Muhammad Naseem Akhtar received Rs. 100,000 for his bronze medal in the same event. In table tennis, Abdal Muhammad Khan received Rs. 250,000 for his silver medal in the U-15 singles category while he and Zunaira Khan received Rs. 187,500 each for their silver medal in the U-15 mixed doubles event. For the U-15 boys' doubles and U-15/U-19 team events, Abdal and his teammates - Noor Khan, Taha Bilal, Abu Huraira, Attaul Manan, and Moosa Asif - were awarded Rs. 75,000 each. Special Olympics athletes were also honored for their performances in the World Winter Games. Abdul Saboor Ahmad received Rs. 250,000 for a gold medal in the 400m Snowshoeing event and Rs. 100,000 for a bronze in the 200m event. Muhammad Afaq Khan and Muhammad Moazzam Iqbal were awarded Rs. 250,000 each for gold in their respective events, while Muneeb ur Rehman was honored with Rs. 250,000 for each of his gold medals in 50m and 100m Cross Country Skiing. Relay team members - Abdul Saboor, Afaq, Moazzam, and Ali Raza - were each given Rs. 150,000, as were Minahil, Raveena Qurban, Iqra Akram, Shah Galoon Hayat, and Tabassum for their team contributions. As part of the federation grants phase, the PSB awarded Rs. 63.9 million to 22 national sports federations under annual and special grant categories. The Athletics Federation of Pakistan received Rs. 10 million, Alpine Club of Pakistan was given Rs. 2.1 million, and Pakistan Badminton Federation was awarded Rs. 1.1 million. The Pakistan Bodybuilding Federation received Rs. 2.5 million, and the Pakistan Handball Federation was provided a special grant of Rs. 5 million. Further allocations included Rs. 1 million to Pakistan Judo Federation, Rs. 2 million to Pakistan Ju-Jitsu Federation, and Rs. 3 million to Pakistan Karate Federation. The Pakistan Kabaddi Federation received Rs. 3 million, and the National Rifle Association was allocated Rs. 7 million (including Rs. 2 million as annual and Rs. 5 million as special grant). Pakistan Rugby Union was given Rs. 1.1 million, Winter Sports Federation Pakistan received Rs. 2 million, and the Pakistan Sailing Federation received Rs. 1 million. Pakistan Squash Federation was allocated Rs. 5 million, Pakistan Swimming Federation and Pakistan Table Tennis Federation were each granted Rs. 2.25 million, Pakistan Taekwondo Federation received Rs. 1.1 million, and Pakistan Tennis Federation got Rs. 1 million. The Pakistan Tenpin Bowling Federation received Rs. 2.5 million, while the Pakistan Volleyball Federation and Pakistan Wrestling Federation were awarded Rs. 5 million and Rs. 3 million, respectively. The Pakistan Wushu Federation received Rs. 1 million. In total, the Pakistan Sports Board disbursed Rs. 32.9 million in annual grants and Rs. 31 million in special grants, reflecting the government's commitment to supporting national sports, rewarding athletes, and strengthening the country's sports infrastructure through consistent financial assistance.
Business Recorder
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Business Recorder
PSB disburses Rs8.2m in cash awards to athletes, Rs63.9m in grants to sports federations
The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) on Wednesday distributed Rs8.2 million in cash awards to 36 national athletes and disbursed Rs63.9 million in grants to 22 sports federations, in a major move to promote sports development across the country. The ceremony was held in Islamabad to honour national athletes who have earned international recognition through their recent performances. Advisor to the Prime Minister on Inter-Provincial Coordination, Rana Sanaullah Khan, was the chief guest at the event, accompanied by Federal Secretary Mohiuddin Wani and PSB Director General Muhammad Yasir Pirzada. PSB takes action against unauthorised bodybuilding federation Javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem received the highest individual award of Rs2 million for winning a gold medal, while his coach Salman Iqbal Butt was awarded Rs600,000. In snooker, Ahsan Ramzan and Muhammad Asif were awarded Rs500,000 each for their bronze and gold medal achievements, respectively. Muhammad Naseem Akhtar received Rs100,000 for securing a bronze. In table tennis, Abdal Muhammad Khan earned Rs250,000 for a silver medal in the U-15 singles, while he and Zunaira Khan received Rs187,500 each for a silver medal in mixed doubles. Team event players Abdal, Noor Khan, Taha Bilal, Abu Huraira, Attaul Manan, and Moosa Asif received Rs75,000 each. Special Olympics athletes were also recognised for their performance at the World Winter Games. PSB welcomes FIFA school football program invitation Abdul Saboor Ahmad was awarded Rs250,000 for a gold and Rs100,000 for a bronze. Muhammad Afaq Khan, Muhammad Moazzam Iqbal, and Muneeb ur Rehman each received Rs250,000 for their gold medals, while relay team members were given Rs150,000 each. In addition to the cash awards, the PSB distributed Rs63.9 million in financial grants to 22 national sports federations under annual and special categories. These included: Athletics Federation of Pakistan: Rs10 million National Rifle Association: Rs7 million Pakistan Handball Federation: Rs5 million Pakistan Squash Federation: Rs5 million Pakistan Volleyball Federation: Rs5 million Pakistan Wrestling Federation: Rs3 million Pakistan Karate Federation: Rs3 million Pakistan Ju-Jitsu Federation: Rs2 million Winter Sports Federation Pakistan: Rs2 million Pakistan Swimming Federation: Rs2.25 million Pakistan Table Tennis Federation: Rs2.25 million Pakistan Bodybuilding Federation: Rs2.5 million Pakistan Tenpin Bowling Federation: Rs2.5 million Pakistan Judo Federation: Rs1 million Pakistan Sailing Federation: Rs1 million Pakistan Wushu Federation: Rs1 million Pakistan Rugby Union: Rs1.1 million Pakistan Badminton Federation: Rs1.1 million Pakistan Taekwondo Federation: Rs1.1 million Pakistan Tennis Federation: Rs1 million Alpine Club of Pakistan: Rs2.1 million Pakistan Kabaddi Federation: Rs3 million Of the total disbursement, Rs32.9 million were allocated as annual grants, while Rs31 million were provided under the special grant category. The PSB said the financial support reflects the government's continued commitment to strengthening the country's sports infrastructure and incentivising high-performing athletes across disciplines.
Express Tribune
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Military operation only solution to terrorism: Rana Sanaullah
Listen to article Senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and Prime Minister's adviser Rana Sanaullah Khan has declared that the nation's stance is clear: terrorism will no longer be tolerated. Speaking to the media after Eidul Fitr prayers in Faisalabad, Sanaullah emphasised that the only solution to terrorism is military operations. He stated that the forces behind terrorism, including agents of India and Afghanistan's RAW, would continue to face strong action, Express News reported. 'We are celebrating Eid thanks to the sacrifices of our martyrs. These martyrs and their families are our benefactors, and our nation's existence is owed to their sacrifices,' said Sanaullah. He also noted that any attack on innocent civilians would not be tolerated, and sympathizers of terrorists would also face consequences. The adviser added that the world now recognises that Pakistan has overcome its economic crisis. He highlighted reports from major institutions that indicate an improvement in the country's economic situation, with inflation decreasing and the common people's conditions improving. Sanaullah also touched upon the Punjab government's plans to alleviate the common man's difficulties, mentioning that all relief measures are aimed at providing comfort to citizens. He criticised political opponents who created divisions and spread hatred, predicting that they would face a bleak future. He also noted the end of the crisis caused by the 2018 project, stating that the Lahore-Multan motorway through Satyana Road, a project worth Rs10 billion, would be completed this year. Additionally, the metro, IT city, and other infrastructure projects would soon be completed. On the issue of terrorism, Sanaullah reaffirmed that only military action could address this threat. He reiterated that Pakistan would take action against the terrorism backed by foreign elements and agents. However, he also expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue with those who respect the country's constitution, provided they do not support terrorism. Sanaullah remarked on the absence of PTI representatives at the National Security Committee meeting and expressed openness to discussions with media outlets. He also emphasised that the government was ready to amend laws if necessary to address the issues raised. Finally, the minister concluded that the solution to social media abuse, which harms people's lives, lies in the implementation of the PECA Act.
