AFC president Sheikh Salman arrives in Pakistan on official visit

ISLAMABAD: Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday for a three-day official visit.

He was received at Islamabad International Airport by Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) President Mohsin Gillani, AFC Secretary General Sonam Jigmi, and other senior officials, according to an official report.

Sheikh Salman, who also serves as FIFA’s Senior Vice-President, has been declared a State Guest for the duration of his stay.

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According to the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC), the AFC chief will hold meetings with key civil and military leaders, with discussions expected to focus on football infrastructure development, capacity enhancement, and exploring avenues of cooperation on sports development projects in Pakistan.

“This is going to be a historic visit, and we are confident it will open the doors to a new sports era in Pakistan,” IPC Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan said in a statement.

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He added that the visit will strengthen sports diplomacy, promote youth empowerment, and enhance regional cooperation—benefits that will extend beyond Pakistan to other Asian nations.

Sheikh Salman last visited Pakistan during the 2014 SAFF Women’s Championship, held a year after his election as AFC President.