The National Assembly Standing Committee on Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC), while emphasizing the need for a coherent strategy in the field of sports, directed the Ministry of IPC and Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) to revisit the policy and structure of funds allocation for the promotion of sports in the country.

The 23rd meeting of the Committee was held today at 11:00 a.m. in the Constitution Room of the Parliament House, Islamabad under the chairmanship of Mr. Nawab Sher, MNA.

While briefing, the President, Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) apprised the Committee that the Federation acquired the rights to organize athletics in Pakistan from the International Association of Athletics Federation (World Athletics) in 1951. The mission of AFP is to promote and develop the sport of athletics in Pakistan in accordance with the World Athletics rules. The objectives of the Federation are to promote, develop, and be the sole governing body for the sport of Athletics in the country. Further, the Federation encourage participation in Athletics at all levels throughout Pakistan through competitions, events, programs and activities. He briefed that the Federation also select athletes and officials to represent Pakistan in Athletics Programs and Competitions to be held within the country and abroad. The President AFP requested the Ministry for allocation of necessary funds to further strengthen the Federation. The Committee directed the Ministry of IPC and Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) to revisit the policy and structure of funds allocation for the promotion of sports in the country.

The Committee considered “The Prevention of Offences in Sports Bill, 2020”, moved by Mr. Iqbal Muhammad Ali Khan, MNA. The Committee, in its previous meeting, directed the Ministry of Interior to furnish their views/comments regarding addition of a new Chapter “XXIV” to the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 as advised/opined by the Law Division. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in compliance with the directions of Ministry of Interior viewed that the Federal Government may be requested to add offences, i.e. 512 to 518 of PPC on the Schedule of FIA Act, 1974 in exercise of powers under Section 6 of the said Act. Furthermore, the Schedule-II of the Cr.P.C may be amended in respect of the proposed offences accordingly in order to regulate/describe their criminal procedure. The Hon. Member/Mover of the Bill did not attend the meeting, therefore, the Committee decided to defer the agenda till its next meeting.

Later, the Committee also deferred the agenda of budgetary proposals relating to Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) of the Ministry of IPC and it's attached departments for the next Financial Year 2022-23. The Committee decided to discuss the PSDP budgetary proposals of the Ministry in its next meeting which will be held shortly.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Mehboob Shah, Mr. Gul Dad Khan, Mr. Gul Zafar Khan, Haji Imtiaz Ahmed Chaudhary, Ms. Robina Jamil, Mst. Shaheen Naz Saifullah, Sheda Nosheen Iftikhar, Ch. Zulfiqar Ali Bhinder, Rana Mubashir Iqbal, Mr. Muhammad Afzal Khokhar, Mr. Rasheed Ahmad Khan, Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Behan, Ms. Shahida Rehmani, Ms. Nasiba Channa, and Syed Faiz ul Hassan, MNAs besides senior officers from M/o IPC, M/o Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, M/o Law and Justice, Athletics Federation of Pakistan, Pakistan Hockey Federation and the representative from the Department of Tourist Services.