Former Olympian Hanif Khan has blamed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP) Chairman Rana Mashhood for the ongoing suspension of departmental sports, which has yet to be revived despite previous announcements.
Sharing his frustration, Khan questioned why the official notification for restoring departmental sports was never enforced. “I don’t believe the prime minister actually holds power,” he remarked. “If he did, the notification he issued would have been implemented without delay,” he added.
Hanif Khan placed primary responsibility on Rana Mashhood, stressing it was Mashhood’s duty to ensure departmental sports activities resume. “Why hasn’t it been restored yet? It is Rana Mashhood’s responsibility to look into this,” Khan insisted.
He further argued that if the prime minister truly had authority, pending athlete appointments would have been finalised in a single day, rather than facing indefinite delays.
Recalling earlier times, Khan praised the era of former president Zia-ul-Haq, noting that sports were actively encouraged within government departments during those years. “Back then, there were departmental teams for hockey, football, cricket, badminton, and tennis,” he explained, adding that such initiatives offered athletes structured career opportunities and competitive platforms.
Khan’s comments reflect growing concern among sports circles over the decline of departmental sports in Pakistan—a system that once played a critical role in nurturing national talent. Many former athletes have repeatedly appealed to revive departmental teams, arguing their suspension has weakened the overall sports structure and limited young players’ chances of professional development.
As debates continue, sports professionals are urging authorities to take concrete steps to reinstate departmental sports, warning that further delays will deepen the crisis and discourage future generations from pursuing sports careers.
