LAHORE: A delegation of World Snooker Champions, including Muhammad Asif, Asjad Iqbal, and Shehzad Butt (Gold Medalist in the Disabled category), met with Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP), at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat. The meeting, led by Muhammad Imran Naushahi, Focal Person for Snooker in PMYP, celebrated Pakistan’s recent international achievements in cue sports and outlined future development plans.
Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan lauded the players for bringing global honor to Pakistan, congratulating them on their victories and reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting snooker as a growing sport in the country.
The Chairman assured the champions that arrangements were being made for them to meet the Prime Minister and receive their promised prize money, acknowledging their contributions to Pakistan’s sporting prestige.
Responding to a request from Muhammad Asif, Rana Mashhood announced that a Snooker Academy would soon be established in Pakistan. The academy is expected to serve as a hub for nurturing young talent and providing structured training facilities to elevate the sport nationally.
During the meeting, Rana Mashhood presented Imran Naushahi with a color/award in recognition of his efforts for snooker. He also discussed plans to launch a Snooker Talent Hunt Program under the PMYP platform, alongside organizing national and international events to expand opportunities for emerging players.
The meeting underscored the government’s intent to institutionalize snooker development in Pakistan, combining recognition of current champions with concrete steps toward infrastructure and talent identification. With the establishment of a dedicated academy and upcoming talent hunt initiatives, Pakistan’s cue sports community is poised for a new era of growth.
