KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has agreed to sponsor the expenses of young cueist Naseem Akhtar to receive higher education.
The young cueist recently won recently won the International Billiard and Snooker Federation (IBSF) U18 World Championship in Beijing, China.
The cueist recently had requested Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to award him a scholarship so he can pursue higher education. However, the premier has appeared reluctant to fulfill his wish.
Javed Karim, Vice President Pakistan Billiard and Snooker Championship, speaking to ARY News said PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has agreed to bear the educational expenses of Naseem Akhtar. Bilawal will also meet the young cueist soon.
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Karim said that he believes that education is necessary along with sports, which gives a good impression internationally that the athlete is well-educated and a good sportsman.
Naseem Akhtar hails from Sahiwal and belongs to a hard-working labourer family. The talented youngster earlier this year won a bronze medal in the Asian Junior Championship held in Chandigarh, India. He also became the only Pakistani to win the ISBF U-18 world championship.
Akhtar had said that he use to travel regularly to Lahore due to the lack of snooker facilities in Sahiwal and the hard work has eventually paid off.
