In a grand ceremony at the Prime Minister’s House, PM Shehbaz Sharif announced a cash reward of Rs 15 crore for Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem.
This accolade comes as a rare honour, marking Pakistan’s first gold medal in 40 years.
PM Shehbaz also revealed that the road between F-9 and F-10 sectors in Islamabad will be named after the champion athlete. Additionally, he announced the establishment of the “Arshad Nadeem High Performance Academy” at Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad, aimed at nurturing young talent and providing world-class training facilities.
In his address, Shehbaz Sharif disclosed the creation of a Rs 1 billion sports endowment fund, dedicated to the training and development of athletes. He further announced a reward of Rs 1 crore for Arshad Nadeem’s coach, in recognition of his pivotal role in guiding the athlete to Olympic success.
Shehbaz Sharif lauded Arshad Nadeem’s achievement, stating that the gold medalist had doubled the nation’s joy on the eve of Independence Day. “Your success serves as an inspiration to every Pakistani, proving that with perseverance and dedication, even the toughest challenges can be overcome,” the Prime Minister remarked.
The Prime Minister also announced that Arshad Nadeem would be nominated for the prestigious Hilal-e-Imtiaz on Independence Day, a move he had instructed his secretary to initiate immediately following Nadeem’s victory.
During his speech, PM Shehbaz emphasized the importance of promoting sports across the country, announcing the formation of a special committee to advance Pakistan’s standing in global sports. He also pledged that the federal and provincial governments would work together to revive the nation’s lost glory in sports, particularly in hockey, cricket, and squash.
Arshad Nadeem, while addressing the ceremony, expressed his gratitude for the honor and support extended to him. He dedicated his success to the nation and vowed to continue his pursuit of excellence, with a focus on the upcoming Paris Olympics.
In a lighter moment, the Prime Minister reassured the athlete that no tax would be deducted from his prize money, taking a subtle jab at the tax authorities present. “Tax collectors often take more from those who already pay, but this will not happen now,” he quipped.
The event also saw Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif acknowledging the efforts of other Pakistani athletes, including female shooter Kushmala Talat, who represented the country at the Paris Olympics.