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ISLAMABAD: Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Chairman of Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP), led a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the recognition of e-sports and the development of a framework to support its growth.
In the meeting, there were people from Ignite, the Higher Education Commission (HEC), the Ministry of IT & Telecom (MoITT), Antakh Ventures, FAST University, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
The main topics of conversation were making e-sports an official sport in Pakistan and creating a system to help it grow.
The PMYP chairman stressed the need to establish infrastructure planning and policy development subcommittees and committees without delay.
Also, the meeting also addressed the creation of gaming arenas, training centres, and coaching facilities, which was emphasized as a priority.
“Efforts will be made to officially recognize e-sports under national sports regulations, enabling structured governance and funding. Nayatel and other telecom companies were urged to introduce specialized, high-speed internet packages catering to the needs of competitive gamers,” the press release said.
It went on to say that e-sports clubs, scholarships, and other university-sponsored gaming events will be crucial in identifying new talent.
“Pakistan will take inspiration from Saudi Arabia’s dedicated gaming infrastructure, aiming to develop a similar model tailored to local needs,” according to a press statement.
The group reportedly discussed potential collaborations with Turkey, China, and Saudi Arabia to investigate the possibility of incorporating e-sports into major international competitions like the Olympics.
Creating game production studios, increasing community involvement, and guaranteeing players’ access to high-speed internet were all points brought up by Fasih Mehta.
He further stressed the need for transparent tax and regulation policies to support the industry’s expansion.
When asked about the future of e-sports, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan declared, “Pakistan will not stay behind.” To formalize e-gaming’s status as a sport in Pakistan, a number of committees and subcommittees will be established to oversee its implementation.
He announced a six-month goal for the government to build an e-sports ecosystem that will help our young people realize their full potential by developing their skills, increasing participation in competitive gaming, and opening doors to opportunities worldwide.
