The Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) has formally requested the federal government to restructure its grant system, pushing for a model that ties financial support directly to athletes’ performance on the international stage.
The move comes as the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination finalizes a new national sports policy. POA officials argue that the current flat-rate funding mechanism fails to reward high-achieving federations, effectively stifling the growth of sports where Pakistan has a realistic chance of securing medals.
“We cannot expect Olympic-level results with a participation-level budget,” a senior POA representative said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “The current system treats every sport as a hobby rather than a professional endeavor. We need to shift to a merit-based investment strategy.”
The proposed policy shift aims to create a “tier-one” category for sports with proven international potential, such as weightlifting, athletics, and wrestling. Under the POA’s plan, federations that demonstrate consistent improvement in rankings and qualify for global events would receive priority access to specialized training facilities and travel grants.
This request arrives at a critical juncture. Pakistan’s recent performance at the Paris Olympics—marked by Arshad Nadeem’s historic gold medal—has intensified public scrutiny regarding how sports are funded. The POA is leveraging this momentum to argue that the nation’s sporting infrastructure is currently too fragmented to sustain long-term success.
Critics of the current system point to the administrative bloat within various national federations, where funds are often diverted to cover recurring operational costs rather than athlete development. The POA’s proposal includes a clause for strict auditing, ensuring that performance-based grants are tracked specifically for training camps, coaching staff, and equipment.
The Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination has yet to issue a formal response, though government insiders suggest the proposal faces resistance from smaller, politically influential federations that fear a reduction in their annual allocations.
Until the government clarifies its stance, the future of the new sports policy remains in a stalemate. For the athletes, the result of this negotiation will determine whether they head into the next Olympic cycle with a clear path to podium contention or continue to rely on the same inconsistent funding that has hindered Pakistani sports for decades.
