By Syed Wahaj Ahmed
University of Karachi (KU) initiated a four-year undergraduate degree programme in sports management as experts lauded initiatives with a view to producing quality sportsmen and enhancing sports good exports.
The newly launched four-year degree programme BS in Sports Business Management at the Department of Public Administration (DPA) of the KU will be helpful in creating a healthy environment for sports-related activities in the country.
This is one of its kinds of degree programmes launched in Pakistan, it could be a game changer for youngsters, players and people who enjoy and are also associated with different sports in the country.
The BS in Sports Business Management degree programme has the potential to change the existing environment of different sports in the country and it could also help in overcoming the management issues in various fields of sports.
Lahore Qalandars CEO and Owner Atif Rana said this while speaking as a chief guest at the launching ceremony of the KU BS in Sports Business Management at the KU Audio Visual Centre, the other day.
He said there is a lack of sports management in the country and hoped that this course may provide the solution in this regard. He said whoever takes this programne will be offered an internship so that they can see things on the ground and positive results can be notched easily.
“During the last 75 years, sports were not taken seriously, but now this field is recognised, which is a good sign. Around 37 different sports are being played locally and such courses will definitely have an impact on them,” he said.
Atif Rana shared that he would try his best to engage an international varsity so that KU students graduating from the KU DPA in this four-year degree course can get an international degree.
Moreover, Productive Line NIKE (Speed Private Limited) General Manager Mustafa Yousuf informed the audience that Pakistan’s sports export is US$409 million annually which can be increased with the help of such degree programmes that will scale up the national economy.
“India is far ahead of us in this field, more than 100 of their universities are offering degrees in sports management, but we have just started working in this field,” he said, adding that sports and tourism are two key industries that have the potential to improve the financial conditions of any country.
Mustafa Yousuf said India is hosting a mega cricket event, Qatar has recently hosted a football world cup and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is planning to have a mega football event.
He said Pakistan could also make billions of dollars by promoting sports events. He called for professional sports managers to achieve this goal.
Former test cricket player Sadiq Muhammad mentioned that hardly 0.1 per cent of good sportsmen emerged from the whole world.
He said this is a fact that 1,000 quality sportsmen could not be produced in 37 games played in the country in the last 75 years. He said a lot of work has to be done regarding promoting sports.
“Sports strengthen a person mentally and physically as well as provide leadership qualities. One of the reasons for not producing good sportsmen from Pakistan’s educational institutions is that we have not given it due priority. Educational institutions especially private educational institutions have been restricted to only one building due to which our youth are unable to show their talents at the varsity level. We have to provide wide opportunities to our young generation in the field of sports so that they can showcase themselves at the national and international level, and also help in improving the country’s economy,” KU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi said.
He said this course has been designed to provide opportunities for the students to demonstrate their skills practically in the sports fields.
Higher Education Commission (HEC) Regional Director Javed Ali Memon said there is a dearth of highly educated people in Pakistan’s sports department, and hoped that this programme would help in filling that gap.
He said the construction of a modern football ground as part of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme will be completed soon at the KU and it will provide opportunities to students to participate in football activities at a higher level. He said the KU will soon have a physiology lab on the campus.
Earlier, those who spoke on the occasion included KU DPA head Dr Saima Akhtar the KU Director of the Office of Research Innovation and Commercialization Dr Syeda Hoorulain, and others.
Hunky-dory!