The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) and the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka celebrated their shared passion for football on Wednesday, with Pakistan donating 1,000 made-in-Pakistan footballs to support grassroots development in Bangladesh.
Pakistan High Commissioner Imran Haider handed over the footballs to BFF President Tabith Awal during a ceremony.
Speaking at the event, Haider said Pakistan's city of Sialkot is globally recognized for manufacturing premium-quality sports goods, including footballs, and has produced the official match balls for the FIFA World Cups in 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026.
He said Pakistan's football manufacturing industry is renowned for its quality, craftsmanship, and innovation, expressing hope that the donated footballs would inspire more young Bangladeshis to take up the sport.
The high commissioner and the BFF president also discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in sports. Their discussions focused on sports medicine, international friendly matches, sports commerce, capacity-building initiatives, and exchange programs involving college and university teams.
To mark the occasion, the BFF organized an exhibition match featuring Under-17 women's football teams. Haider praised the players for their enthusiasm, talent, and potential.
Tabith Awal thanked the Pakistan High Commission for the donation and said the footballs would be distributed quickly among young players across the country to help promote football at the grassroots level.