Director General Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Syed Amir Hamza Gilani inaugurated the newly-renovated office of Rawalpindi-Islamabad Sports Journalists Association (RISJA) Wednesday. Islamabad Chamber and Commerce Industry Executive Committee Member Nasir Mehmood Chaudhry, Sh Abdul Waheed, senior member ICCI along with other dignitaries and sports journalists were also present.

The DG PSB thanked RISJA for giving him the honour to be the chief guest on the occasion and promised his all-out support for the promotion of sports. He said the PSB and sports journalists must join hands to help sports flourish in the country. Answering the questions regarding current tensions between the POA and the PSB and who would be responsible if the IOC suspends Pakistan membership due to current deadlock, Gilani said: “It is not an issue between POA and PSB. We,

as government institution, have to implement Supreme Court orders in true letter and spirit regarding two-term restriction. Secondly, it is the POA affiliated federations who has appointed an Interim Committee to run the affairs smoothly. As far as damage to the country is concern, both these parties will be equally responsible if any thing goes wrong for the country at international level.” He said 42 federations were affiliated with the PSB and it was providing them sufficient funds on annual basis. “If some federation comes up with some suggestion or requires our help we not only provide them maximum support but are also ready to help them out financially.

”When this correspondent ask Gilani, there is no check and balance on the federations who are taking huge grants from the PSB but are reluctant to organise activities, Gilani said PSB president and Federal Minister for Ministry of IPC Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani had constituted a committee to evaluate and monitor the clubs under the chair of Additional Secretary IPC, with Joint Secretary IPC, DG PSB and one member of the respective federations as members.

The committee would prepare its report on different clubs and would analyse their performances and under performing clubs and associations would not be provided any future assistance, he added.Gilani further said we welcome positive criticism and we would appreciate if our positive steps would also be recognised.

Gilani said the federations must chalk out a comprehensive plan to find grassroots level talent and then turn them into world beaters. “We would announce special incentives for all those federations who practically work on that particular area.”Speaking on the occasion chairman RISJA Abdul Mohi Shah thanked DG PSB for sparing his time and promised journalists support for the betterment of sports in the country.