Islambad, Aug 13: Minister for Information, Broadcasting, Culture and National Heritage Attaullah Tarar on Tuesday accorded warm welcome to Gold Medalist of the Paris Olympics 2024 Arshad Nadeem on his arrival at the Nur Khan Airbase. Other cabinet members including Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Prime Minister’s Coordinator on Media Badar Shahbaz, and Principal Information Officer Mubashir Hassan also accompanied the Information Minister at the Nur Khan Airbase for receiving Arshad Nadeem.
Talking to the media, the Information Minister said Arshad Nadeem is a national hero who has been invited to Islamabad on special invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Arshad Nadeem is a state guest and a state protocol has been given to him on his arrival at the Nur Khan Airbase, he said, adding the gold medalist’s family and coach also accompanied him on a special charter plane arranged for his visit to Islamabad.
He said the prime minister hosted a banquet in honor of Arshad Nadeem today, and tomorrow, both would unfurl the Pakistani flag together in the main event of flag hoisting. Speaking on the occasion, gold medalist Arshad Nadeem said that he had achieved a great success with the prayers of his parents and the whole nation.
The gold medalist said that he played his first match during Punjab Youth Festival which was organized by PM Shehbaz Sharif in 2012. He lauded Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for restoring departmental sports in the country which encouraged sportsmen in different games from across the country. The gold medalist gave credit of his success to his coach Salman Iqbal Butt as well, vowing extensive efforts in future for bringing more laurels to the country.