Sarfaraz Shah says KP athletes project province’s positive image

PESHAWAR
Seventeen sports personalities from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were honoured at the Sports Heroes Awards 2026 ceremony held at Nishtar Hall here on Friday in recognition of their outstanding contributions and achievements at national and international levels.
Adviser to the Governor on Sports and Youth Affairs Dr Syed Sarfaraz Ali Shah, who attended the ceremony as the chief guest, said athletes represented the true and positive image of the province through their achievements.
Adviser to the Governor on Information and Public Relations Samar Haroon Bilour, Secretary Sports, Secretary Youth Affairs, Director General Sports, officials and a large number of athletes also attended the event.
Dr Sarfaraz Shah congratulated the award recipients and said the initiative would recognise the contributions of sports personalities and encourage young people to take part in sporting activities.
He said athletes demonstrated discipline, perseverance, hard work and determination, adding that these qualities offered valuable lessons for everyday life.
He observed that victory and defeat were part of sports, but losing should not discourage athletes. Instead, they should learn from their experiences and return to the field with greater preparation and determination.
The adviser said KP was often associated with terrorism and unrest, but its talented athletes were projecting a positive image of the province through their performances at national and international competitions.
He said the people of the province were talented, courageous and determined, expressing confidence that KP had a bright future.
The awards were presented in three categories: Legends, Champions and Emerging Talent.
Under the Legends category, former world squash champions Jansher Khan and Qamar Zaman, along with Syed Aqil Shah, Shiraz Mohammad, Mohibullah Khan, Naeem Akhtar and Rashida Ghaznavi, were honoured for their contributions to sports.
In the Champions category, Test cricketer Imran Khan, Zakaria Hayat and Maimoona Baloch received awards.
The Emerging Talent category recognised Murad Khan, Hijab Ajmal, Syed Faisal Shah, Shahid Khan, Asifa Noor, Usman Khan and Fahad Khawaja for their achievements and promising sporting careers.
Dr Sarfaraz Shah said the award recipients were role models for young athletes and their achievements would continue to inspire the next generation to excel in sports.

Samar calls for stronger sports institutions, greater women’s participation
Adviser to Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Information, Public Relations, Relief, Rehabilitation and Settlement Samar Haroon Bilour has called for stronger sports institutions, greater participation of women and girls, and a supportive environment for young athletes.
Addressing the Sports Heroes Awards ceremony at Nishtar Hall on Friday, she appreciated Adviser for Sports Dr Syed Sarfaraz Ali Shah for revitalising sporting activities in the province within a short period.
She said recognising talented athletes and those who had contributed to their development was a commendable initiative. She also welcomed the participation of women, young girls and children at the ceremony, saying it was encouraging to see Nishtar Hall hosting an event celebrating local sporting achievements.
Ms Bilour said victories by Pakistani athletes at international competitions brought pride to the entire nation. She added that, alongside sports legends, people who had strengthened the administrative and institutional foundations of sports also deserved recognition.
She stressed that sustained success required consistent administrative efforts, effective planning and strong institutions. She called for greater representation of women and girls at future sporting events and equal opportunities for them to demonstrate their abilities.
The adviser reaffirmed her commitment to promoting the achievements of the province’s sports personalities and said creating a conducive environment for sports and other positive activities in Peshawar and across the province remained a priority.
Later, responding to journalists’ questions, she said individuals issued notices by relevant institutions should respond to them and present their position instead of resorting to abusive language and inappropriate remarks.
She added that such language could not divert attention from the issues at hand, and that questions raised by the Federal Investigation Agency and the National Accountability Bureau required proper responses from the concerned individuals.