The Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP) and Empower Sports Academy have forged a significant partnership to annually identify and train 10,000 young women under 19, in a landmark effort to cultivate a new generation of elite female athletes and bolster Pakistan’s Olympic prospects.
According to an official information today, a Letter of Intent (LOI) cementing the collaboration was formally signed at the Prime Minister’s Office between Dr. Muhammad Ali Malik, Joint Secretary of PMYP, and Junaid Qureshi, Founder and Executive Director of Empower Sports Academy, in the presence of senior officials.
The core of the multi-year framework is a nationwide multi-sport Talent Hunt Program designed to discover and support potential future Olympians. The scouting process will involve field camps, regional trials, and extensive school-based outreach programs across the country.
Speaking at the ceremony, PMYP Chairman Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan stated that the initiative reflects the government”s commitment to expanding opportunities for young women. He emphasized that empowering girls through athletics contributes directly to national progress, youth development, health, and social inclusion.
In addition to the talent search, the agreement announces the creation of the Empower Women National Tournament, which is set to be Pakistan’s first large-scale national women’s sports competition. PMYP will support the tournament by providing nationwide promotion, coordinating between ministries, and securing venues to ensure broad participation from schools and colleges.
Under the terms of the LOI, Empower Sports Academy will be responsible for developing high-performance frameworks, international-standard evaluation tools, and talent identification systems. The academy will also engage world-class coaches and global technical experts to design athlete development pathways aligned with Olympic benchmarks.
High-potential athletes identified through the program will be provided with structured training, mentorship, and athlete development resources. The initiative will also expand their access to government sports facilities, courts, and residential accommodations, systematically strengthening the country”s Olympic pipeline for women.
Junaid Qureshi described the partnership as a “turning point for women’s sports in Pakistan.” He added, “Together with PMYP, we will build the country’s largest talent pipeline and give young girls the opportunity, training, and platform to become champions for Pakistan.”