The role of banks, departments and institutions in the promotion, economic welfare and development of Pakistan’s sportspeople is unforgettable. If there is no departmental patronage in Pakistan, there will be no sports.
Whatever Pakistan has got in the world of sports is because of the services of banks and other departments which provide huge amount of funds, provide jobs to players and establish their own sports complexes, gymnasia and academies.
They produce hundreds of great sportspeople in various disciplines who conquer the world and hoist Pakistan’s green flag around the world — in cricket, hockey, squash, snooker.
The most prominent among them is, of course, National Bank of Pakistan (NBP).
Yes, NBP has done great things for Pakistan’s sports for more than five decades. It does not demand anything and keeps on silently doing a great job, providing best facilities to players. It has established at least seven teams in domestic sports, unmatched by any other department.
Recently, the NBP sports authorities decided to acknowledge and pay tribute to those sports stalwarts who contributed for Pakistan at international level and for the bank (NBP) at domestic level.
The EVP and head of CSR Mohsin Furqan said that to inform the younger generation of sports world, NBP has planned to establish a picture gallery at NBP stadium of those players who represented the bank in domestic sports and also establish stands, naming them after Iqbal Qasim, Wasim Hasan Raja, Nasim-ul Ghani, Wallis Mathias and Wazir Muhammad.
“It is time to inform the younger generation about how many greats were here,” Mohsin said.
They also plan to establish a gallery of the collection of the trophies and medals they won in domestic competitions.
NBP won dozens of national championships and trophies in various disciplines.
The NBP’s sports department plans to maintain its sports records in Pakistan’s sports arena and after Eid-ul-Fitr, it will inaugurate the players stand at the cricket stadium, pictures gallery and the trophies gallery.
“A colorful ceremony will be held on the occasion,” Mohsin said.