Pakistan gifts 1,000 footballs to BFF to boost grassroots football in Bangladesh
Published: 09 July 2026, 2:44:33
Collected Photo
The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) and the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka on Wednesday jointly celebrated their shared passion for football, with Pakistan donating 1,000 footballs to support grassroots football development in Bangladesh.
As part of the initiative, Pakistan High Commissioner Imran Haider formally handed over 1,000 Made in Pakistan footballs to BFF President Tabith Awal at a ceremony in the capital.
Speaking on the occasion, the High Commissioner said Pakistan’s city of Sialkot is internationally recognised for producing premium-quality sports goods, particularly footballs. He noted that Sialkot manufactured the official match balls for the FIFA World Cups in 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026.
He said Pakistan’s football manufacturing industry has earned a global reputation for its quality, craftsmanship and innovation, describing it as a symbol of the country’s industrial excellence.
Expressing hope that the donated footballs would encourage young players in Bangladesh, he said the equipment would further strengthen the enthusiasm of the country’s youth for the sport.
During the event, the High Commissioner and the BFF president discussed ways to enhance Bangladesh-Pakistan sports cooperation. They agreed that closer collaboration in sports could strengthen people-to-people ties, particularly among young people.
The discussions covered several areas of potential cooperation, including sports medicine, international friendly matches, sports commerce, capacity-building programmes and exchange visits involving college and university football teams.
To mark the occasion, the Bangladesh Football Federation organised an exhibition match featuring Under-17 women’s football teams.
The Pakistan High Commissioner praised the young footballers for their enthusiasm, talent and promising potential.
BFF President Tabith Awal thanked the Pakistan High Commission for the donation and said the footballs would be distributed quickly among young players across Bangladesh to help promote football at the grassroots level.
The initiative is expected to strengthen sporting ties between Bangladesh and Pakistan while supporting youth football development across the country.
