In a year marked by careful budgeting, Pakistan’s federal government has allocated Rs1.1 billion in the 2025-26 budget for sports infrastructure development under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP). While this amount is modest compared to other sectors, it reflects a focused and strategic effort to nurture national talent and improve the country’s sports facilities.
The flagship project is the Arshad Nadeem/Shehbaz Sharif High Performance Sports Academy at the Pakistan Sports Complex in Islamabad. Named after Pakistan’s Olympic star and the current Prime Minister, this academy has an estimated cost of Rs2.852 billion, with Rs300 million set to be released this year. The budget documents don’t specify a timeline, suggesting the project may be rolled out in phases or is awaiting final approvals.
Another new initiative in Pakistan’s Sports Budget targets grassroots development: a multipurpose sports complex and two padel courts in Faisalabad. This project is budgeted at Rs241 million, with Rs100 million allocated for work in 2025-26.
In addition to new projects, Rs779 million has been set aside for eight ongoing sports infrastructure schemes. These include upgrades to regional sports facilities, track-and-field centers, and provincial development programs started in previous years.
While the PSDP focuses on physical infrastructure, the total federal sports budget for 2025-26 is reported at Rs17.8 billion, which likely includes administrative and promotional expenses.
Within this budget, Rs30 million is dedicated to building 250 mini sports complexes nationwide, aiming to provide basic sports facilities to both urban and rural communities.
Rs150 million is allocated to support and organize the National Games, highlighting the importance of domestic multi-sport events.
To boost scientific support for athletes, Rs120 million will fund a biomechanics lab for performance analysis and injury prevention. Additionally, Rs100 million is earmarked for hiring foreign coaches, especially to improve Pakistan’s performance in Olympic sports where the country has struggled.
Given Pakistan’s ongoing economic challenges, this sports budget may seem limited. However, it shows a clear focus on investing in high-performance training, expanding community sports infrastructure, and applying scientific methods to athlete development.
The true measure of success will depend on how effectively these funds are used to build stadiums, training centers, and sports programs across the country.