Islamabad: In a significant development for Pakistani sports, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced a record increase in prize money for national heroes who bring distinction to the country on the global stage. This decision aims to incentivize and reward the outstanding achievements of Pakistani athletes.
Under the new structure, athletes securing a gold medal at the Olympic Games will now receive PKR 30 million, a substantial jump from the previous PKR 10 million. Silver medalists will be awarded PKR 20 million, and bronze medalists will receive PKR 10 million, reflecting a strong commitment to recognizing top-tier performance.
The increased incentives extend across a wide range of international competitions. Gold medalists at the Winter Olympics and Asian Games will now be awarded PKR 10 million. Similarly, Para-Olympic Games gold medalists will also receive PKR 10 million, ensuring parity for athletes with disabilities.
For the Asian Games, gold medalists will be rewarded with PKR 10 million, silver medalists with PKR 7 million, and bronze medalists with PKR 5 million. Commonwealth Games gold medalists will receive PKR 7.5 million, while gold medalists at the Islamic Games will be awarded PKR 5 million.
Further expanding the scope of recognition, players winning the British Junior and US Open Junior titles will receive PKR 10 million. Gold medalists at the Asian Indoor Games will be awarded PKR 2 million, and those achieving gold at the SAF Games will receive PKR 1 million. Youth Olympics gold medalists are now eligible for PKR 5 million, and winners of World Championships will be granted PKR 7.5 million.
Crucially, the Prime Minister's initiative also includes dedicated prize money for special athletes. Specific allocations have been made for participants in the Special Olympic World Games, as well as blind and deaf sports events, underscoring an inclusive approach to sports development.
This comprehensive decision by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has been widely praised by athletes and stakeholders within the sports fraternity, who view it as a pivotal step towards fostering a culture of excellence and significantly boosting morale among national players.
