Number 51
Pakistani Government Commits to a National Sports Policy for Inclusive Growth
Featured Focus:
Global Development, Youth Development, Governance & Ethics
Scope of Impact: Global
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif championed the power of sports as a catalyst for positive change and international solidarity. Here’s what you need to know:
National Priority: The Pakistani government has positioned sports as a central pillar of its development agenda, recognizing its potential to drive progress and empower the younger generation.
Policy Commitment: A comprehensive national sports policy is in place, emphasizing grassroots inclusion, talent identification, gender equality, and overall development across various sports.
Future Aspirations: Pakistan aims to become a hub for sports and tourism. They will host the 14th South Asian Games later this year, signaling a move towards international collaboration and recognition.
Pakistan’s government is all-in on sports. We love that!
It’s an easy win for the government from a PR perspective, and it’s a massive win for everyone in Pakistan in general — youth in particular. This focus is being set from the highest office in the land, and it’s a full-blown country-wide effort. In fact, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared that “2025 is the year of sports’ revival in Pakistan.” We love how that sounds.
To dive into the details, Pakistan’s renewed national policy for sports prioritizes inclusion and gender equality. It has big ambitions to establish high-performance academies and enhance transparency within sports federations, and signals a serious commitment to building a sustainable and ethical sports ecosystem.
Another signal? Hosting the South Asia Games highlights a shift towards sports diplomacy, and boldly Pakistan’s intent to engage with the international community through sports to promote growth and solidarity.
YOUR NEXT PLAY:
If we put scale aside, this initiative is an incredible reminder of the direct impact that sports can have on all members of society. And if you’re reading this, there’s a good chance that your team, org, or brand can have a similar impact within your own sphere of influence.
We’d love to hear about any projects or campaigns you’ve been part of that have harnessed the power of sports to promote peace, solidarity, and/or development. If you’ve got one to share…drop us a line at [email protected]. Who knows, you might even see it in a future W|W Download or WIN | WIN Wednesday Newsletter.
The country’s governing sports body promotes participation, improved health and fitness, a more progressive society, and inclusion for all.
The 2025 theme for this annual event, led by the United Nation’s, was “Leveling the Playing Field: Sport for Social Inclusion.”
Official video of Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem making history with a gold medal in Javelin at Paris 2024.
Originally scheduled for February, the Games will now be held this November, with over 2,500 athletes expected to participate.
The program aims to build stronger connections between the worlds of academics and sports by exploring the impact of sports on global societies.
A comprehensive source for news, updates, interviews, and perspectives from every level of international sports.
