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FIFA vice president Sheikh Salman Al Khalifa arrives in Pakistan for football development talks

FIFA vice president Sheikh Salman Al Khalifa arrives in Pakistan for football development talks
An undated file photo of FIFA vice president Sheikh Salman Al Khalifa. (Photo courtesy: inside world football/ website)
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Updated 9 min 13 sec ago

FIFA vice president Sheikh Salman Al Khalifa arrives in Pakistan for football development talks

FIFA vice president Sheikh Salman Al Khalifa arrives in Pakistan for football development talks
  • Al Khalifa, member of Bahrain’s royal family, will meet Pakistani leadership during the three-day visit
  • The visit comes as Pakistan has increased its participation in international football events this year

ISLAMABAD: FIFA Senior Vice President and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa arrived in Pakistan on a three-day official visit to discuss football infrastructure development, an official statement said on Tuesday.

The visit comes as Pakistan has increased its participation in international football events this year, with its national teams competing in regional tournaments in the Middle East and other places.

Al Khalifa, a member of Bahrain’s royal family, will meet Pakistan’s civil and military leadership to discuss football infrastructure development, possible cooperation in sports development projects and ways to increase opportunities for youth.

“On the instructions of the prime minister, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa has been accorded the status of a ‘State Guest’ during his stay in Pakistan,†the statement said.

He was welcomed at the airport by Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) President Mohsin Gillani and AFC Secretary-General Sonam Jigmi.

Football has long been popular among Pakistan’s youth but in recent years participation has grown at the grassroots level amid rising interest in international leagues.

Local tournaments, school competitions and community clubs across major cities have further fueled enthusiasm for the sport.

The PFF has also increased engagement with global football bodies, aiming to strengthen Pakistan’s presence in international competitions and boost its development at home.


Pakistan, Iran sign five MoUs to deepen media, cultural cooperation

Pakistan, Iran sign five MoUs to deepen media, cultural cooperation
Updated 16 sec ago

Pakistan, Iran sign five MoUs to deepen media, cultural cooperation

Pakistan, Iran sign five MoUs to deepen media, cultural cooperation
  • Tarar calls digital media ‘the way forward,’ hoping the accords will enhance collaboration in the field
  • Iranian envoy says the MoUs will promote media cooperation and open avenues for public diplomacy

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iran on Tuesday signed five agreements to strengthen cooperation in broadcasting, digital media and cultural exchange, according to a state media report, with officials describing the development as a step toward stronger ties through enhanced cultural understanding.

The Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), inked between Iran’s state broadcaster, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), and several Pakistani media institutions, aim to boost collaboration in content production, training and regulatory practices.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar termed the visit of the Iranian media delegation “productive and inspiring,†saying the signing of MoUs reflected both governments’ resolve to strengthen people-to-people connections and promote shared values of peace.

“Digital media is the way forward,†the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency quoted him as saying, as he highlighted that “the new agreements with Iran focus on enhancing collaboration in this vital domain, allowing both countries to learn from each other’s experiences.â€

According to official summaries, the MoUs between IRIB and Pakistani institutions — including Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV), the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), Box Office (Pvt) Ltd, Sab TV Network, and VSH TV — cover areas such as broadcasting, training, content production and cultural exchange.

Under the IRIB-PTV MoU, both broadcasters will exchange television programs and co-produce news and cultural content.

Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Dr. Reza Amiri Moghadam thanked the government for its support, saying the new framework would “bring the people of Pakistan and Iran closer through enhanced cultural understanding and media exchange.â€

“These agreements will not only promote cooperation between our media organizations but also pave the way for broader public diplomacy,†the ambassador said.