Karachi, 10th July, 2025: In a major stride toward youth empowerment through sports, the Prime Minister’s Cricket Talent Hunt Program was officially launched today at NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi. The event was graced by Rana Mashood Ahmed Khan, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, and warmly welcomed by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Tufail, Vice Chancellor of NED University.
Addressing a packed audience of students, sports officials, and dignitaries, Rana Mashood reaffirmed the government’s dedication to uplifting Pakistan’s youth across diverse sectors — including science, technology, arts, culture, and sports.
“Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, we are creating opportunities for youth on the basis of merit. The Prime Minister himself is personally overseeing the Talent Hunt Programme,” he stated.
Rana Mashood highlighted the importance of strategic partnerships in nurturing young talent, especially the collaboration with Lahore Qalandars for the Youth Player Development Program.
“We are grateful to Rana Atif, CEO of Lahore Qalandars, and his dedicated team for their unwavering support. With their help, we’re preparing our youth to excel on national and international platforms,” he said.
He shared remarkable statistics from the trials, noting that over 17,000 youth participated in Quetta alone, reflecting the untapped sports potential in Balochistan. He also paid tribute to Karachi’s rich cricketing history, referencing legendary figures like Hanif Mohammad, Sadiq Mohammad, and Javed Miandad.
To date, more than 20,000 players have registered in the Talent Hunt Program, with selections being made solely on merit.
“This is a national movement to uplift youth, in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of inclusive progress,” he added.
As part of his visit, Chairman Rana Mashood Ahmed Khan also visited the Bio-Mechanical Lab of NED University, where he was briefed by university officials about the lab’s facilities and ongoing work.
The event was further elevated by the presence of Pakistan’s international cricket stars, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Fakhar Zaman, who actively participated in evaluating and encouraging the young cricketers. Their interaction served as a powerful inspiration for aspiring players hoping to follow in their footsteps.
Other notable attendees included Rana Atif (CEO, Lahore Qalandars), Bashir Memon (President, PML-N Sindh), Nihal Hashmi (Former Senator), Raja Ansari, Fahad Shafiq (PMYP Sindh Coordinator), and Mr. Javed, Director from the Higher Education Commission.
In a major announcement, Rana Mashood also unveiled plans for the first-ever National Youth Games, scheduled for August 2025 under the umbrella of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme. He commended the Sindh Government for its collaboration in making the Karachi Talent Hunt a resounding success.
The launch event at NED University marks a pivotal milestone in the national drive to empower youth through inclusive, merit-based sports initiatives — with strong backing from both government leadership and iconic figures from Pakistan’s cricketing world.
