NA body recommends PFF to align constitution with FIFA rules

ISLAMABAD, Sep 15 (APP):The National Assembly Standing Committee on Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) has recommended the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) to align its constitution and rules with FIFA requirements to ensure effective development of football in Pakistan.

The IPC Committee meeting was held under the Acting Chairmanship of Dr. Mahreen Razzaq Bhutto, here at the Parliament House on Tuesday.

In the meeting, the PFF President briefed the Committee on the Federation’s recent achievements, performance, and future plans. He informed the Committee that the Pakistan National football team had won a trophy in an international event for the first time, describing the achievement as a highly encouraging development for the promotion and development of football in the country.

The Committee appreciated the achievement and acknowledged it as a positive step towards strengthening football in Pakistan. During the briefing, it was informed that the Pakistan Football Federation had remained inactive for a considerable period; however, elections of the Federation were held approximately one year ago in accordance with the directions of FIFA, resulting in the election of new leadership, including the President of the Federation.

The Committee was further informed that certain provisions of the existing rules and constitution of the Pakistan Football Federation were not yet fully aligned with FIFA’s rules and regulations. Necessary steps were therefore being taken to bring the Federation’s legal and constitutional framework in conformity with FIFA requirements.

The Committee also recommended that the Pakistan Football Federation bring its constitution and rules fully in line with FIFA requirements to facilitate effective and sustainable measures for the promotion and development of football in Pakistan.

The President of the Pakistan Football Federation also informed the Committee that the development and rehabilitation of football infrastructure was of paramount importance for the promotion and development of football in the country, and necessary measures were being undertaken in this regard. He further informed that talented players from across the country were being identified under the Talent Hunt Programme with the objective of bringing new talent into the national football system.

In this regard, the rehabilitation and reconstruction of football infrastructure, grounds, and academies in every province was highlighted as an essential requirement for the sustainable promotion of football in Pakistan. The Committee directed the Pakistan Football Federation to establish effective coordination, cooperation, and collaboration with the Sports Departments of the provincial governments so that the Federation could play an active role in various schemes and initiatives introduced for the promotion of sports.

The Standing Committee recommended the establishment of a state-of-the-art Sports Complex on Wapda land in District Haripur. During the meeting, Wapda representative raised concerns regarding the suitability of the proposed site, stating that the land may fall within a potential flood passage.

The Committee directed the formation of a joint committee comprising representatives of the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination, Wapda, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the concerned Member of the National Assembly, and other relevant stakeholders to assess the technical and practical feasibility of the proposed site and submit its report to the Standing Committee within one month.

Besides the officials of the Ministry and its attached departments the MNAs including Babar Nawaz Khan, Anjum Aqeel Khan, Sheikh Aftab Ahmad, Waseem Qadir, Pir Ameer Ali Shah Jeelani, Haji Rasool Bux Chandio, Syeda Shehla Raza and Khushal Khan Kakar attended the meeting.