ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday met with Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Senior Vice President of FIFA, in Islamabad to discuss avenues for the promotion of football in Pakistan.
Welcoming the AFC President, the Prime Minister commended Sheikh Salman’s leadership and acknowledged the AFC’s efforts in advancing football across Asia.
Highlighting the government’s initiatives to promote sports, Prime Minister Shehbaz said that the government is committed to creating equal opportunities for youth in all sports, including football. He reiterated Pakistan’s resolve to transform the country into a key regional hub for football and to establish an autonomous, merit-based football federation.
The Prime Minister expressed keen interest in enhancing Pakistan–AFC cooperation in football development across the country, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. He emphasized the importance of training programs for coaches and referees, building national training centers, upgrading stadiums, and creating structured talent pathways.
Shehbaz Sharif also expressed Pakistan’s desire to host AFC tournaments and matches in the near future.
Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa thanked the Prime Minister for his warm hospitality and reaffirmed the AFC’s commitment to supporting football’s growth and professional development in Pakistan.
