243 New Athletes to Receive Financial Support
The Punjab government has approved an increase in Sports Endowment Fund scholarships to provide stronger financial support to talented athletes across the province.
The revised scholarship structure will take effect from July. Under the new decision, 243 additional athletes will be included in the Sports Endowment Fund programme.
The announcement was made by Secretary Youth Affairs and Sports Punjab, Fazlur Rehman, during a meeting held at Punjab Stadium.
The meeting was attended by DG Sports Punjab Tariq Qureshi, Director Admin Abid Shaukat, Director Sports Chand Perveen, Director Youth Affairs M Fahad, Deputy Director Zahoor Ahmed and senior officials from the Sports, Finance and Pension Fund departments.
Officials reviewed the current scholarship system and discussed steps to improve support for athletes in different performance categories.
Fazlur Rehman said the government was committed to helping skilled players continue their training and compete at higher levels.
Monthly Scholarship Amounts Increased
According to Secretary Sports Punjab, 313 athletes are already receiving scholarships under the Sports Endowment Fund.
With the latest approval, the programme will expand further and provide regular monthly assistance to more players.
Under the revised structure, athletes in the Platinum category will receive Rs100,000 per month.
Players in the Gold category will receive Rs75,000 per month, while those in the Silver category will get Rs50,000 per month.
Athletes placed in the Emerging category will receive Rs30,000 per month.
The new scholarship amounts are expected to help athletes manage training expenses, equipment costs, travel needs and other sports-related requirements.
The programme is also aimed at encouraging young players to remain focused on professional sports without facing severe financial pressure.
Special Bank Cards for Easier Payments
Fazlur Rehman also announced that scholarship recipients will be issued special bank cards. These cards will allow athletes to receive their monthly scholarships in a more convenient and transparent way.
Officials said the move would improve payment management and reduce delays in fund distribution.
The Sports Endowment Fund is designed to support athletes who have shown potential in different sports disciplines. The latest expansion shows the provincial government’s effort to invest in sports development and athlete welfare.
The decision is expected to benefit both established and emerging players. It may also encourage more young people to take sports seriously as a professional path.
By increasing scholarship amounts and adding new recipients, Punjab aims to strengthen its sports ecosystem and create better opportunities for future champions.
