By Alam Zeb Safi
ISLAMABAD: Basketball’s global governing body FIBA has committed to a comprehensive development plan for Pakistan following a high-level delegation visit to the South Asian nation, aiming to revive its structure and return the country to international competition.
A delegation from the FIBA Regional Office-Asia recently concluded a series of strategic meetings in Lahore and Islamabad with top government officials, Olympic organizers and national basketball executives.
The sport has long been overshadowed in cricket-obsessed Pakistan by infrastructure deficits and institutional challenges. The latest intervention by FIBA signals an organized attempt to tap into the country’s large youth demographic.
Hagop Khajirian, the head of the FIBA Asia delegation, met with Mohyuddin Wani, Pakistan’s Federal Secretary for Inter-Provincial Coordination and acting Director General of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), alongside representatives from the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA).
“Empowering national federations remains one of FIBA’s key strategic pillars,” Khajirian said in a statement, noting that Pakistan holds significant long-term structural importance within the Asian basketball zone.
Khajirian described the multi-party talks as “highly productive and encouraging,” adding that the governing body reviewed several proposals designed to elevate local training standards, coaching pipelines, and refereeing certifications.
The Pakistan Basketball Federation (PBBF), led by President Brigadier (Retd) Muhammad Iftikhar Mansoor and Secretary General Khalid Bashir, has struggled to maintain a consistent competitive footprint outside domestic tournaments. Political rifts within the local sports framework have previously hampered international participation.
Government backing remains a critical element for any sustained sporting revival in the country, where public funding is predominantly directed toward cricket. The Pakistan Sports Board’s involvement indicates potential state alignment on infrastructure upgrading and hosting rights for future regional qualification rounds.
FIBA said it intends to work directly with the PBBF and local sports authorities to roll out grassroots programmes, aiming to build a scalable model that can transition Pakistan from a peripheral regional participant into an active competitor on the Asian circuit.
