Industrialist Arif Saeed likely to take over as Pakistan Olympic chief

Oxford graduate and Chief Executive of Service Industries Limited Arif Saeed has emerged as a consensus candidate for the Pakistan Olympic Association’s (POA) presidency.

A highly credible source told Nukta that Arif, who is also the president of Pakistan Rugby Union, is the candidate of the government. The source said that the POA had received a message from the government cordon that Arif was its candidate and it would be fine if the POA cooperates and goes with him.

The source said that the matter was decided in the Prime Minister House. The source said that Arif also has strong backing of the Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and it is the premier Shehbaz Sharif who has declared him as candidate for the POA’s presidency.

The source said that it has been decided that the POA sitting secretary Khalid Mehmood, will, as usual, act as the POA secretary general for the next four years tenure.

The source said that Ahmer Malik, a senior official of Punjab Olympic Association, will be elected as treasurer.

The source said that Arif Saeed has been closely associated with the PML (N) and especially the premier Shehbaz Sharif for years.

Arif Saeed is not only the owner of the Service Group but he is also the pioneer of rugby sport in Pakistan.

“He is a good person and is highly educated. He understands the things and I hope change will come in Pakistan’s sports,” the source said.

Besides the top officials one senior-vice president and four vice-presidents, including two male and two female, will be elected in the POA elections which will be held on December 30.

As many as six ExCo members will also be elected which will include three male and three female.

The source said that two deputy secretaries will also be elected at the elections which will be held at the Avari Hotel.

After former POA chief Lt General (retd) Syed Arif Hasan resigned at the end of last year Mohammad Abid Qadri Gilani was elected as the new president for an interim period.

Since long both the state and POA had been at loggerheads on various issues. However, the patch-up will help end the dispute and differences between the government and the POA which will help the country’s sports.

Today was the last date for submission of nomination papers for the POA elections and the exact details are expected to be officially released soon.

Arif Saeed has also served as the CEO of Dar Es Salaam Textile Mills Limited from 1992 to 2006. He has also been the chairman of the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) and the Lahore Stock Exchange. He also served on the Board of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL). Saeed has been the founder chairman of Quaid-e-Azam Solar Power Company, Punjab Thermal Power Company and National Power Parks Management Company (Private) Limited which altogether successfully set up four leading power plants in the public sector.