LAHORE – The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has announced the launch of its ambitious ‘Football for Schools’ programme, a nationwide initiative aimed at expanding grassroots participation by distributing more than 150,000 footballs to schools across the country.
The announcement was made by PFF President Syed Mohsen Gilani during celebrations of the AFC Grassroots Football Day at Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad, where young players, coaches and families gathered to highlight football’s growing community impact in Pakistan. The event featured 56 young footballers competing in eight mixed teams, equally divided between boys and girls, in a celebration designed to promote inclusivity, youth engagement and the development of grassroots football.
Pakistan joined a record 45 member associations in commemorating the 13th edition of the AFC Grassroots Football Day, organised annually by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The event coincided with FIFA’s World Football Week and contributed to the United Nations-backed football for the goals initiative.
“Grassroots football is the foundation upon which future talent is built,” President Gilani said during the ceremony. “Every player’s journey begins at the grassroots level before progressing to national representation. Through this AFC Grassroots Day, the PFF wants to reinforce that youth and grassroots football remain among our highest priorities.” The ‘Football for Schools’ programme is expected to be formally rolled out in the coming months, with the large-scale distribution of footballs intended to increase accessibility to the sport in educational institutions nationwide. According to the federation, the initiative forms part of a broader long-term youth development strategy focused on nurturing football talent from an early age. Saturday’s activities also included a safeguarding awareness session for parents and guardians, where an animated educational presentation was screened to promote child protection principles and safe sporting environments, highlighting the federation’s commitment to player welfare and inclusivity. A major highlight of the day was the equal participation of girls and boys in the festivities, reflecting the PFF’s emphasis on gender inclusion within its grassroots development framework. “The encouraging aspect is that both girls and boys are participating together in our Grassroots Day celebrations,” Gilani added. “This is part of our broader vision to strengthen football development at every level across Pakistan.”
