REVISTING THE NATIONAL SPORTS STRATEGY By Aamir Bilal

A briefing regarding national sports strategy was given to the honorable President of Pakistan on 30 th Oct 2004 and the same was approved for implementation by the cabinet in July2005. However no worth while progress has been made since 2005 and sports continue to decline in the society which now carries an access baggage of mature terrorism, dangerous extremist attitudes and negligible representation and participation in international sports.

In this ocean of miseries and distress sports remain at the back burner of national policies with little hope of revival and respite for the 170 million population that love to watch, participate and play sports under all circumstances.

While revisiting the national sports strategy from its very inception, one can notice so many findings which are valid to date and even if one third of it is implemented, can change the fate of sports in Pakistan. This interesting story of national sports policy dates back to 1967 when Government of Pakistan constituted the National Sports Committee under the chairmanship of Mr A.B. Awan who was holding the office of Secretary of Home Ministry and Kashmir Affairs. The other members of committee included the towering personalities of Brig C H B Rodham, Nawab Hasan Askari, Mr A. H. Kardar, Mr Shamsul Huq the VC of Rajshahi University and Lt Col A. Hamid.

The committee members met all stake holders including sports organizers, sports writers, players and representatives of education institutions and held consultative sessions in every province including Dacca and Chittagong. The discussions were frank and the extent of agreement was indeed, striking. The committee reviewed the performance of Pakistan from 1948 London Olympics to 1968 Mexico Olympics and the performance of national contingent in Asian and Commonwealth games was also reviewed critically.

The committee concluded that our performance in international sports deteriorated since 1962, yet performances in certain games such as Wrestling in Commonwealth Games and Hockey at World and Asian level have been quite satisfactory. However our performance in Athletics was branded as “ very poor ”. The committee also reviewed the progress of Squash, Cycling, Cricket, Football and Tennis in the country.

A very valid suggestion in terms of specialized paid secretary for each sport was proposed and it was also felt that there was too much involvement of Government officials in sports. Although their association with the game as experienced administrators and policy makers was welcome yet it was felt that they lacked sport management and technical skills.

The committee thus recommended the strengthening of than Pakistan Sports Control Board as the central controlling, regulating and developing authority of sports in the country. Beside the weaknesses in the organizational structure the committee attributed the decline in sports to the absence of leadership in the educational institutions. It was thus recommended that provincial authorities should provide more funds and better playing facilities for the promotion of sports and games in the educational institutions.

It was believed that encouragement should be provided for the participation of women in sports as they are the first nurseries of sportsmen. The committee also recognized an urgent need for the establishment of Community Sports Centers in the congested urban areas with linkages to local bodies. Separate measures were proposed for developing rural sports and development and preservation of playing fields and open spaces through legislative measures by the central government.

The committee also recommended measures to cope up with lack of funds, ever increasing cost of sports equipment and proposed comprehensive methods for giving incentives to physical education teachers, sportspersons and organizations.

While concluding the proceedings the committee recorded that there was no dearth of talent in the country however there was lack of sustained and well coordinated action on the part of sports organizers and provision of facilities and patronage by the well to-do members of our society. At the end the committee reiterated that it is only by organizing sports and games as a mass movement that we can hope to look after physical well being of our people and at the same time create a broad enough bases from which Pakistani sportsperson of international stature can emerge.

The critical examination of the committee report and recommendations that took place forty two years ago reveals many interesting facts. The most glaring amongst it is that Pakistan managed to win 39 gold, 44 silver and 31 bronze (Total 114) medals at Olympics, Asian and Commonwealth games from 1948 to 1968. In 1966, 5 th Asian games at Bangkok Pakistan won 2 Gold, 4 silver and 2 Bronze, yet the performance was not considered satisfactory as compared to 28 medals in 1962, 4 th Asian games in Djakarta. Above all it showed the resolve of the government that carried out such a cumbersome exercise with the help of best available brains in the country to ascertain the facts and gave solid recommendations for the improvement of sports in the country.

Followed by the committee report and recommendations a national seminar on the development of sports in the 4 th Five Year Plan was held at the WAPDA House Auditorium on 17 th & 18 th August 1968. Mr A. H. Kardar initiated the proceeding which was widely attended by representatives of industry, education, journalism and sports world. Personalities like Mian Riaz- ud-Din, Chowdhry Muhammad Hussain, Mr I. A. Rahman, Mian Rafique Saigol, Mr Saifuddin Valika, Mr Atiquzzaman, Mr A.U. Zafar, Syed Babar Ali, Professor Khawaja Aslam, Dr Nazir Ahmad Principal Government College Lahore, Mr A.I.S.Dara, Mr Iqbal Butt, Mr A.B.Awan, and Mian Riaz-Ud-Din Ahmad Chairman Export Promotion Bureau attended the seminar.

Mr Kardar disclosed that funds and allocations made by the government to sports organizations are not fully utilized. On the promotion of sports in education institutions the committee found that sports activities were not properly organized specially for the children between the age of 10 and 14, and physical education instructors were improperly trained to produce the sports nursery at school and college level.

While discussing the construction of stadia and coaching centers, it was highlighted that the under utilization of these assets is a colossal national loss. It was also suggested that sports cess should be imposed on cinema tickets and industrial sector should be persuaded to make substantial contributions to promote the sports culture. Mr Riaz-ud-Din severely criticized the effort that went in the preparation of national sides and suggested that instead of only focusing at national teams more attention should be paid to popularizing the games amongst masses i:e “attempts should be made to move horizontally rather than vertically”. He further stated that industrialists and businessmen should replace maharajas and nawabs in sponsoring the sports.

Chowdhary Muhammad Husain who hailed from rural background suggested taking sports to villages to change their out look so that instead of indulging in feuds, litigations and other undesirable activities, their attention could be diverted to healthier and cooperative living.

Mr Saifuddin Valika suggested that the stadia which lay idle should be turned into sports clubs with paid memberships. Mr Atiquzzaman deplored the fact that there had been shortfall in public response to sports. Whereas universities that should have been the back bone of our sports had merely turned into apologies.

Educationists like Professor Khawaja Aslam and Dr Nazir Ahmed were of the view that general sporting standards amongst students and their character and discipline left much to be desired. They were of the view that sport should not be only for winning but for participation.

Mr Iqbal Butt, director physical education of the Punjab University recommended the establishment of a central cooperative sports goods store and similar stores at districts to provide cheap sports goods and articles he also suggested quarterly sports journals should be brought out by each university.

While concluding the session Mr Mukhtar Masood Commissioner Lahore said that there are two alternatives before the nation. That all resources and efforts should be directed at winning medals abroad and the other was to give more people opportunities to play and participate in broad based sports activities. Most of the members agreed that the second alternative should be the desired end as this would serve the first purpose automatically.

The entire proceedings and its out come were submitted to the Government in the form of report of the National Sports Committee and since than no one know about the fate of that comprehensive report.

On 02 April 1983 a directive was issued by than President General Zia-ul-Haq taking serious note of the decline in the standards of sports in the country. In the light of that directive ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism submitted a report to Cabinet in June 1983. At that time Mian Nawaz Sharif was the Minister for Sports in Government of Punjab and Niaz Muhammad Arbab was Federal Minister for Culture Sports and Tourism.

The 1983 report comprised of two parts. The first part comprised of main report which reflects a cross section of opinions and comments of knowledgeable persons and general public where as the second part of the report was an analysis of the replies to the questionnaire and the taped interviews along with the recommendations of the committee. This comprehensive document left no stone unturned and covered all matters related to sport development including organizational matters, sports issues related to education institutions, involvement of private sector, role of local bodies in promotion of sports, role of media, strategies for Olympic and Asian games, establishment of National Institute of Sports and Culture and matters pertaining to sports finance.

The resolve shown for the implementation of the policy in education institutions and club sports can be well judged from the statement on page 15 and 16 of the report stating, “ Firm measures should be taken to rectify the position. If necessary, martial law orders/ rules may be enforced to deal with the offenders who grab lands earmarked for developing sports facilities”

Lt Gen Saeed Qadir President Athletic Federation, Lt Gen Bakhtiar Rana President Bodybuilding Federation, Mr Salman Taseer president Chess federation of Pakistan, Lt Gen Faiz Ali Chisti President Pakistan Golf federation, Lt Gen Gulam Jilani Khan President Kabaddi federation, Mr Ali Ahmad Khan Talpur President National Rifle Association, Mr Zafar Ullah Khan Jamali President Pakistan Shooting Ball federation, eminent educationists, member of media, former international sports person and organizers gave valuable inputs for the improvement of sports in the country.

However at this crucial juncture of the history a vital policy mistake had been committed in the form of separating the sports ministry from education, without devising means of coordination that adversely effected the development of sports nursery in education institutions which was already at decline.

In May 1999 the second National Sports Conference was convened by Federal Minister of Sports Mushahid Husain Sayed at Liaqat Gymnasium Islamabad. The theme of conference “Accountability in Sports ” clearly reflects the deplorable state of sports affairs in the country. The conference was attended by Brig Danial Austin, Brig Atif, Mr Islahuddin, MNA Latif Afridi, Mr Allah Bux, Zia- ud- Din Khilji, Idrees Khawaja, Asghar Ali Changezi and many more from sports scene of Pakistan. Yet another committee comprising of Nishat Mallick, Latif Butt and Mr Zakir Husain Sayed was formed to work with provincial education ministers to rejuvenate sports at grass roots.

Unfortunately the result this time was not different from previous exercises as nothing tangible could be achieved at World and Asian level and sports continued its journey as a rudderless aero- plane from bad to worst. The sports administrators and federations by that time had shifted their focus from Asian and Olympics level to SAF games only however this face saving attempt also fell apart because of poor competition and sporting standards at SAF level.

The latest attempt to formulate a comprehensive sport strategy was carried out in 2003-04 when Brig Arif Mahmud Siddiqui (Retd) was DG Pakistan Sports Board. A briefing in this regard was given to than President Gen Perveez Musharaf (Retd) on 30 th Oct 2004 in which the salient features of sports strategy were spelled. The plan of converting the Old Lahore Airport Terminal into a sport complex was presented and President was briefed about the Hero Card fund raising scheme for the promotion of sports.

This comprehensive policy was crafted with care and immediate and long term objectives were spelled. Important shortfalls were highlighted. The allocation of development and non development budgets were discussed in detail. Remedial measures for improvement of sports in education institutes were suggested and a detail structure of schools and colleges sports board (SCSB) along with its aims and objectives was presented. Youth games, women sports, university sports and sports for Madaris was presented. The role of provincial and district governments and revival of sports activities in departments came under discussion.

It was decided that handsome cash incentives will be given to medal winners at international level. The development of sports structure the tax exemption mechanism for sports equipment, talent hunt schemes and the all important monitoring mechanism was also suggested.

This comprehensive strategy was approved by cabinet in July 2005 but could not be implemented in true letter and spirit like previous sports policies and strategies. The sports dreams have gone sore and no silver lining is visible. The country’s youth is in the grip of Cricket fever which is not an Olympic sport and does not fall in the domain of POA or PSB.

While revisiting the national sports policies and different other exercises from 1967 to 2008 fascinating ideas for improvement of sports can be viewed. One common factor that has been spelled as the root cause of decline in national sports standards from beginning to date is lack of structured sports activity in education institutions and community based club sport that serves as the nurseries for vibrant sports culture.

It is strange to note that despite highlighting this vital gap the sports strategies are silent about the detail blue print necessary to develop a broad and strong base of sports at grass roots. The reason is obvious, Pakistan Sports had and has services of outstanding administrators, sports persons and policy makers but there is a dearth of sport management and sport education experts who have the capacity to develop workable programs suiting our complex environment whereby sports can be linked with education and community development programs.

Pakistan sports development needs a paradigm shift. The World, Olympic and Asian champions will emerge automatically provided the decision makers have faith in the potential of sports and are not afraid of putting the horse before the cart and decides to empower the common man, by exercising all tools of social development including the vital tool of sports.

Aamir Bilal Qualified Coach IOC [email protected] 19 th Nov 2009