Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq praised the Lahore Qalandars franchise for its significant role in promoting sports among youth and women in Pakistan, highlighting the team’s efforts to foster inclusion and talent development at the grassroots level.
In a meeting with Atif Rana, CEO of Lahore Qalandars, Speaker Sadiq expressed appreciation for the franchise’s initiatives aimed at engaging young people and advancing sports nationwide. He emphasized that providing constructive activities for the youth is crucial for the country’s future, noting that Pakistan is rich in young talent. The Speaker particularly commended the team’s focus on equal opportunities for women in sports, describing it as a progressive step towards national sports development.
Atif Rana outlined the achievements of Lahore Qalandars’ Player Development Program, which has trained over 100,000 young athletes so far. He stressed that special attention is given to regions such as Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where youth benefit from regular training camps and competitions designed to bring them into mainstream sports.
Addressing women’s participation, Atif Rana announced that cricket talent hunts for women have been organized in more than 25 cities across the country, giving aspiring female athletes new pathways into professional cricket. He reaffirmed the franchise’s commitment to inclusivity, stating that the core mission of Lahore Qalandars is to create opportunities for ordinary people in both sports and entertainment.
Atif Rana concluded the meeting by thanking Speaker Sadiq for his support, saying that this recognition motivates both the franchise’s leadership and the young athletes involved. He reiterated the Qalandars’ vision of empowering youth and women from all parts of Pakistan to contribute to a healthier and more prosperous nation through sports.
