ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Interior Minister and Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Mohsin Naqvi met with Bangladesh’s Minister for Youth and Sports, Local Government and Rural Development Asif Mahmood in Dhaka on Thursday to discuss bilateral cooperation in cricket, umpire training, and youth development initiatives.
The two ministers talked about working together to promote cricket, train umpires and create more opportunities for young people in both countries, Pakistan’s state-run APP news agency reported.
The talks resulted in a broad agreement to strengthen bilateral cooperation in sports—particularly cricket—and the development of umpiring and youth engagement programs.
During the meeting, the two sides agreed to sign a formal memorandum of understanding between the PCB and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to promote cricket and institutionalise training programs.
Minister Naqvi invited Bangladeshi umpires to Pakistan for professional training, underscoring Pakistan’s willingness to share technical expertise and resources for regional sporting development, according to APP.
A special focus was placed on enhancing women’s cricket, with both ministers agreeing to develop joint initiatives aimed at nurturing female athletes across both countries.
The two sides also discussed initiatives to promote youth skill-building, employment generation, and educational cooperation.
Discussions included scholarship opportunities, higher education exchange programs, and experience-sharing in educational reforms.
The ministers also explored collaboration in renewable energy—particularly solar energy innovation—marking a growing interest in sustainable technology exchanges.
Pakistan's Federal Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control, Chairman PCB and President ACC, Mr. Mohsin Naqvi, met with Bangladesh’s Adviser for Youth and Sports, Mr. Asif Mahmud and discussed bilateral coop in various fields including sports, youth exchanges & education. pic.twitter.com/HVnCugHZ4U
— Pakistan High Commission Bangladesh (@PakinBangladesh) July 24, 2025
Minister Naqvi also introduced Pakistan’s secure identity infrastructure, highlighting the success and technological advancement of NADRA (National Database and Registration Authority).
Minister Mahmood expressed strong interest in Pakistan’s identity management systems and welcomed an invitation for a Bangladeshi delegation to visit NADRA. A high-level Bangladeshi delegation is expected to visit Pakistan in the near future to pursue this collaboration further.
Emphasising the demographic parallels between the two nations, Minister Naqvi stated that youth make up the majority of both populations. “By investing in sports, skills, and education, we can create lasting opportunities for our young people,” he said.
