PFF working toward financial independence, revival of domestic league: COO Shahid Khokhar

Lahore: Chief Operating Officer of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), Shahid Niaz Khokhar, has said that the federation is actively working to reduce its reliance on international funding and move towards financial independence, while also preparing to relaunch Pakistan’s top domestic football competition within the year.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Times, Khokhar highlighted the federation’s strategic priorities, including securing local sponsorships, organising a national football league, and strengthening the sport’s institutional structure across the country.

The COO explained that the PFF currently covers its operational and events expenses largely through funds provided by FIFA, football’s global governing body. However, he emphasised that more funds are needed for an overall, long-term and sustained development.

According to him, the financial support from FIFA should be viewed merely as a basic allowance rather than a comprehensive funding solution for Pakistan’s football system. “We must move beyond the mindset of relying solely on FIFA aid,” Khokhar said. “The funds which a FIFA MA receives is limited, in fact it is kick-off money for a federation. To truly develop football in Pakistan, we need a professional approach and sustainable financial planning.”

The COO added that the current PFF leadership is actively exploring various avenues to strengthen its financial base. “The federation’s president, Mohsin Gilani, is determined to ensure that the organisation stands on its own feet as soon as possible,” he said and added: “To achieve this goal, the federation is aggressively pursuing local sponsorship opportunities, which could significantly boost revenue and reduce dependence on international funding.”

One of the federation’s key initiatives is the revival of Pakistan’s domestic football league. Khokhar revealed that significant progress has been made in organizing a national league competition. “The federation is likely to announce the league this year, with Pakistan Premier League being the preferred name for the competition, echoing the country’s previous top-tier football tournament.”

“The PFF is not far away from launching the Pakistan Premier League,” he noted and further said: “Both the federation and the market strongly desire that the announcement be made this year.”

The revival of the league is expected to provide a structured competitive platform for local players, clubs, and fans while also opening new commercial opportunities for sponsors and broadcasters.

Responding to a question regarding Iran’s potential refusal to travel to the United States for a World Cup event due to geopolitical tensions, Khokhar acknowledged the disappointment such developments could cause among football fans. “Football has a global impact and that millions of supporters may feel disheartened if teams withdraw from major tournaments due to political disputes.”

However, he stressed that such matters fall beyond the jurisdiction of national football federations. “These decisions are ultimately taken by political leadership,” Khokhar said, adding that sporting bodies have limited influence in geopolitical conflicts.

The COO also highlighted the international connections of PFF President Mohsin Gilani, saying they are being effectively utilised to promote football development in Pakistan. He acknowledged that football is already extremely popular across the country, but the real challenge lies in organising the sport on scientific and professional lines. “The federation is focusing on building modern systems for player development, competition management, and grassroots expansion.”

Discussing regional football cooperation, Khokhar emphasised the importance of matches between Pakistan and India. “The long-standing rivalry between the two nations played a major role in elevating cricket to its current global popularity. A similar sporting rivalry in football could significantly boost the game’s appeal in South Asia,” he said.

Khokhar added that fans across the region, including those in Bangladesh and Afghanistan, would welcome more regional football competitions. “In the past, discussions had taken place about organising Pakistan-India football matches at neutral venues. These proposals reportedly received strong commercial interest.

“At one stage, there were suggestions to stage a match in England and later in Dubai, similar to the model used for cricket encounters between the two nations. “Sports is an activity where positivity is at its peak,” Khokhar said.

The COO believes that all the football authorities in South Asian region including on the Indian side would be willing to organise such matches supported by the political leaderships and fans of the game.“ In my view, all the world’s conflicts should begin and end on the sports field,” he remarked.

Khokhar also clarified that the federation does not look towards the government for providing financial support. “We have no complaints that the government does not allocate us a budget,” he said. “Our goal is to become self-sufficient as far as the regular football activity is concerned.” At the same moment, he admitted that the building of infrastructure is not possible without government backing. “While we intend to generate required revenue through our own efforts, the building and upgradation of football infrastructure can only be done with the government support,” he added.

He explained that activities funded through FIFA require approval procedures, which can take some time. As a result, the federation must currently operate its initiatives in a limited and carefully planned manner.

Khokhar expressed optimism that once the federation begins generating its own revenue, while continuing to receive support from FIFA, the standard of football in Pakistan will improve significantly. “With financial stability and professional management, football in Pakistan will not only improve but will also embrace innovation and modernisation,” the COO concluded.