In a major step to promote youth sports across the country, the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) has constituted the National Youth Games Council (NYGC) to serve as the principal body for organizing and supervising the first-ever National Youth Games. According to a notification issued by POA President Arif Saeed, the decision was approved during the Executive Committee Meeting of the POA.

The NYGC will oversee policy-making, strategic planning, and organizational execution for the Games. Chairman of the Prime Minister Youth Programme (PMYP), Rana Mashood Ahmed Khan, has been appointed as the Chairman of the Council, while POA President Arif Saeed will serve as Co-Chair. POA Secretary General Muhammad Khalid Mehmood has been named as the Secretary of the NYGC while Aisam ul Haq Qureshi, Associate Secretary General POA, will serve as the Coordinator of the council. 

The council includes representatives from key national and provincial sports organizations, armed forces sports directorates, and major stakeholders from across Pakistan’s sports landscape. Key members includes Federal Secretary IPC Mohyuddin Wani, Director General Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Yasir Pirzad, POA Senior Vice President Fatima Lakhani, Director General Fitness & Sports, Pakistan Army, Directors General of Sports from Punjab, Sindh, KP, Balochistan, AJK, and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Chief Commissioner Islamabad Capital Territory, Director Sports of Higher Education Commission (HEC), Presidents of Provincial Olympic Associations, Representatives from POA Athletes Commission and POA Sports Commission , Treasurer and three women members. According to the notification, the committee has been entrusted with the responsibility of acting as the central body for planning and executing the National Youth Games.

Ensuring all strategic efforts are aligned with the goal of promoting youth sports development across Pakistan. This initiative is seen as a pivotal step toward the revival and structured promotion of youth sports at the national level, aiming to provide new opportunities for emerging athletes across the country.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)