Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced an award worth Rs2.5 million for Pakistani Olympian Arshad Nadeem, who is all set to take part in the Paris Olympics in June.

But he would undergo knee surgery in the United Kingdom before the mega event in the French capital. The reigning Commonwealth Games champion had skipped last year’s Asian Games in Hangzhou China due to a knee problem.

Pakistan’s ace javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem called on PM Shehbaz in Islamabad on Tuesday where the latter praised the former’s efforts to clinch the silver medal at World Athletics Championship 2023 despite scant resources.

His achievement made the nation proud, the prime minister said and announced an award for Nadeem.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, State IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, MNA Romeena Khurshid Alam MNA and MPA Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan were present at the meeting.

The prime minister added that there was immense talent in the country in sports which required to be groomed. He also stressed the need for focusing on the promotion of sports in rural areas.

PM Shehbaz urged the athlete to prepare with more zeal and dedication for his future ventures and assured the government’s full support to him in all his efforts.

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Nadeem briefed the Prime Minister about the game and his journey to win international accolades.

Later he told reporters that he hoped that the government would take tangible steps to encourage and facilitate the talented sportsmen in the country, according to Radio Pakistan.

Sports should be promoted in educational institutions through regular organizing of events and competitions, Nadeem said.