TTS Report :
Pakistan marked a major milestone in grassroots football development on Saturday as Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the country’s first-ever FIFA Arena in Lahore’s Subzazar area.
The ceremony brought together government officials, football administrators, and community leaders, signalling the arrival of international-standard football infrastructure in Pakistan and the start of what organisers described as a broader nationwide rollout.
The FIFA Arena initiative was introduced to Pakistan by Syed Mohsen Gilani, President of Pakistan Football Federation (PFF). Gilani said the project stemmed from discussions aligned with the Prime Minister’s vision, adding that Rana Mashhood extended immediate support when the idea was first proposed. “This is a historic day,” Gilani said. “From our very first discussion, Rana Sahib backed the initiative and encouraged us to begin in his constituency. Today, we have delivered on that promise, and this is only the beginning.”
Highlighting growing momentum in Pakistani football, Gilani pointed to recent international performances and broader institutional support. “When leadership demonstrates vision, implementation follows. With continued backing, we will see many more such projects across the country,” he added.
He also emphasised the transformative impact of accessible infrastructure on young players. “For years, our children have watched football played on world-class pitches on television. Today, we are turning that vision into reality here at home.”
Rana Mashhood, meanwhile, announced that Shehbaz Sharif is expected to inaugurate the facility upon its completion, framing the initiative as part of Pakistan’s wider development trajectory. “The next Pelé, the next Diego Maradona, the next Marta, they can emerge from Pakistan, shaped on pitches like this,” he said. “Real progress in sport begins at the grassroots, and this facility will play a vital role in that journey.”
MNA Hafiz Nauman credited the government’s leadership for prioritising youth engagement through sport. He also expressed willingness to make additional school facilities available for future FIFA Arena installations. Naveed Ahmed Lodhi welcomed the revival of community football infrastructure, noting that such spaces had gradually disappeared over time. “This is something we once had in abundance. It’s encouraging to see it being restored,” he said.
Jawed Dogar, Additional Inspector General and a PFF Congress member, described the development as a proud moment for the local community. The FIFA Arena is a standardised, FIFA-endorsed small-sided pitch concept aimed at expanding access to football at the grassroots level. Its introduction in Subzazar not only reflects a commitment to nurturing the sport but reinforces the belief that world-class football can take root in local communities across Pakistan.
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