The Pakistan Sports Board has backed raising the cash prize for an Olympic gold medal to Rs100 million, its director general told a Senate committee, as senators demanded clearer accounting of how athletes are funded and supported.

PSB Director General Yawar Hussain told the Senate Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination on Wednesday that the board had approved the proposed prize and that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had formed a committee in the Finance Division to consider it. No start date was given for the higher award.

Current prizes far lower

Under a July 2025 notification, an individual Summer Olympic gold medal currently carries Rs30 million, with Rs20.5 million for silver and Rs10 million for bronze. The proposed Rs100 million gold prize would more than triple the current figure. No revised figures for silver or bronze were given during the briefing.

The committee, chaired by Senator Dilawar Khan, also questioned the continued absence of the minister from its meetings, noting that he had not attended any of more than seven sessions. Members sought details of spending on athletes' training and preparations, and stressed the need for better facilities and effective use of funds.

Football funding and former FATA talent

The Pakistan Football Federation told the committee it receives about Rs350 million a year from FIFA, and highlighted the formation of the country's first futsal team and historic wins by the women's team in the FIFA Series 2026. Senator Hidayatullah Khan called for adequate resources and sporting opportunities for talented youngsters from the former FATA region.

Officials also briefed the committee on board plans to attract international sporting events and promote Pakistan as a sporting destination. Source: The News