Pakistan plans to launch a new professional, club-based football league designed around local needs, Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) President Mohsen Gilani said on Monday.
Speaking to reporters in Karachi, Gilani said the proposed league will be commercial in nature and feature teams from across the country. However, it will not follow the franchise model used by the Pakistan Super League (PSL) or India’s Indian Super League (ISL).
“This will neither be PSL-style nor ISL-style. It will be PFF-style,” Gilani said. He added that the competition will be structured around club foundations to ensure long-term sustainability and grassroots development.
Gilani said the federation’s immediate priority is strengthening the national men’s and women’s teams while improving infrastructure and governance.
“Our entire focus is on improving the national teams,” he said. “We now have an experienced coach, something Pakistan has not had before, and we must benefit from his experience.”
Pakistan recently appointed former Peru international Norberto Solano as head coach. Gilani said Solano will soon hold a national training camp to prepare for the upcoming fixture against Myanmar. He noted that Ramadan has made it difficult to arrange preparatory friendlies.
Gilani emphasized that team selection will remain entirely the coach’s decision. “It is not the job of the PFF president to decide who plays. We have appointed a coach, and whoever he believes is best will represent Pakistan. The federation will fully support him,” he said.
He also outlined steps to improve football infrastructure, including installing mini-pitches across the country. Two new pitches have already been installed, and he said the FIFA president is expected to visit Pakistan soon.
He said his prior relationships within FIFA and with other football federations have helped ease administrative challenges for the PFF and improved cooperation in training players, coaches, and referees.
Pakistan’s football activities were suspended for nearly a decade due to internal disputes and FIFA interventions.
On regional engagement, Gilani said Pakistan and India recently competed in the SAFF futsal tournament in Thailand in a positive atmosphere. He said football can serve as a bridge between the two neighbors and confirmed discussions with the government about participation in the SAFF Championship.
Addressing the debate over overseas-based players, Gilani said the distinction between diaspora and locally based footballers should end.
“If a player is eligible to represent Pakistan, then he is a Pakistani footballer. If FIFA declares him eligible and the coach considers him suitable, he will play for Pakistan,” he said. “If tomorrow our players go abroad to play, do they become foreigners?”
Gilani said tangible improvements in performance can be expected within two years. He pointed to the progress of the under-17 team as evidence of a strengthening development pipeline.
He further added that women’s football has also shown encouraging results in recent months and expressed hope that Pakistan football, particularly women’s football, will be on the rise within two years.