Saifullah Ansar
ISLAMABAD: Sept 18 (DNA): Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Pakistan, Dr. İrfan Neziroğlu, visited the ongoing national goalball training camp organized by the Pakistan Blind Sports Federation (PBSF) at Liaquat Gymnasium, Pakistan Sports Complex.
PBSF President Muhammad Waqas, Col. Akram Malik, Chief Editor Pasban Aziz-ur-Rehman Mujahid, Irfan Tabassum, Tahseen Javed Chaudhry, and Vice President Shehzad Javed welcomed the distinguished guest. National team player Ms. Hira Kanwal presented a bouquet to the Ambassador as a gesture of hospitality.
In his address, Dr. Neziroğlu said that Pakistan and Türkiye are century-old friends who have always stood by each other in times of natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods. “Though two separate nations, we have always remained side by side and will continue to do so,” he added. He termed Pakistan’s hosting of the Asia Pacific Goalball Championship 2025 as a great honor for the country and PBSF. He further remarked that he was not visiting merely as an ambassador but as “Uncle Irfan” of the blind athletes, encouraging the players to call him by that affectionate title.
The Ambassador appreciated the dedication of the male and female teams and expressed his wish to see a bilateral series between the blind teams of Pakistan and Türkiye in the near future. He assured full support for the promotion and development of blind sports in Pakistan and vowed to continue engaging with PBSF leadership and athletes in the future.
The event featured exhibition matches by the male and female national goalball teams, showcasing their skills and preparation for upcoming international events. A special musical performance by singer Fawad Alam also entertained the participants.
At the conclusion, Col. Akram Malik presented a commemorative shield to Dr. Neziroğlu on behalf of PBSF. PBSF President Muhammad Waqas thanked the Ambassador for his encouragement and support, reiterating the Federation’s commitment to strengthening international cooperation in blind sports.
 – Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Pakistan, Dr. İrfan Neziroğlu, visited the ongoing national goalbal){kind=link}