Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday met with Khair Muhammad, father of Pakistani MMA star Shahzaib Rind, at the PM House and handed over a cheque for Rs5 million as a government reward for the athlete’s international achievements. The premier also extended best wishes for Rind’s upcoming competitions. The move came days after the fighter publicly criticized the federal government for failing to deliver on its financial promises despite multiple announcements.
In a since-deleted social media post on July 23, Rind had revealed that while PM Shehbaz had pledged Rs5 million in cash and Rs80 million for his training camp, he “never received a penny.” He accused politicians of making hollow promises after photo ops but thanked Balochistan CM Sarfaraz Bugti and PPP’s Aseefa Bhutto Zardari for their consistent support. The outcry prompted Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar to apologize for the “unjustified delay,” attributing it to miscommunication and assuring swift resolution.
Rind later acknowledged the government’s response, expressing gratitude on X: “Representing Pakistan is an honor… Inshallah, with your support, we can inspire the next generation of champions.” The PM’s intervention highlights ongoing concerns about bureaucratic delays in recognizing athletes, even as authorities vow systemic improvements to prevent such lapses.