Premier announces Hilal-i-Imtiaz for Pakistan’s ace javelin thrower in recognition of his outstanding achievement at the Olympics.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hosted an extravagant dinner on Tuesday to honor Pakistan’s pride and ace javelin thrower, Arshad Nadeem, who secured a gold medal at the Paris Olympics 2024.
During the thrilling final of the Paris Olympics, Nadeem achieved a remarkable javelin throw of 92.97 meters, making history as the first Pakistani to win an individual gold medal at the Olympics. This victory also marked the country’s first gold in athletics and the first in any discipline in 40 years.
Upon arriving at the Prime Minister House for the celebration, Nadeem, accompanied by his mother and family, received a warm and grand welcome from PM Shehbaz.
At a ceremony following the dinner, the prime minister announced a generous prize of Rs 150 million as part of the many rewards to honor the star athlete, coinciding with the nationwide celebrations of his historic achievement just before Independence Day.
The prime minister expressed his pride in Nadeem’s record-setting performance and revealed plans to name a road from Islamabad’s F10 to F9 sector after him, calling it a splendid gift for the nation ahead of Independence Day on August 14. He also announced that Nadeem would be honored with the Hilal-i-Imtiaz, the second-highest civilian award in Pakistan.
Looking forward to future competitions, the prime minister disclosed plans to establish a sports academy named the “Arshad Nadeem High Performance Academy” at Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad. This academy will provide training for young athletes preparing for the 2028 Olympics.
Additionally, PM Shehbaz introduced a sports endowment fund worth Rs 1 million to support players, address the needs of retired athletes, and improve training opportunities.
In his speech, Arshad expressed heartfelt gratitude to his family and the nation for their prayers, which he credited for his Olympic success. He mentioned that the warm welcome he received upon returning to Pakistan felt even more meaningful than the medal itself. Arshad pledged to train diligently for future competitions and aims to set another world record.
Earlier, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar extended a warm welcome to Nadeem and his family at Nur Khan Airbase, where they arrived on a chartered flight. He emphasized that the gold medalist is a national hero and a state guest. In addition to the dinner at the PM House, Nadeem has been invited to the main Independence Day ceremony, where he will unfurl the Pakistani flag alongside PM Shehbaz during the flag-hoisting event.
