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Lt General(R) Arif Hassan resigned from Pakistan Olympic Association.
Sports activist inayat Achakzai
KARACHI: Lt. Gen (R) Syed Arif Hasan has officially resigned from his role as the President of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) citing health concerns.
Confirming his decision to Geo News, General Arif expressed the necessity to step down from his position, citing health issues as the primary factor.
The resignation is set to take effect on January 1, 2024, as announced by General Arif. This development marks the end of his longstanding association with the POA.
Having served as the President for an impressive 19 years, General Arif Hasan has been a prominent figure in the Pakistani sports community. He was initially elected to the position in March 2004, and his tenure has seen various developments and achievements within the Olympic Association.
In a widely circulated letter to the Executive Committee Pakistan Olympic Association that he didn’t take the decision of stepping down lightly.
“It is borne out of the necessity to balance my health and well-being with the demands of leading such a dynamic and impactful organization. Hope you will understand and respect this decision of mine,” he wrote.
“Leading POA has been an enriching experience. The journey I had embarked upon has not only led to significant milestones for the Association but has also, on a personal level, been source of contentment and fulfilment for me. I want to express my utmost gratitude for the support I have received from all of you during my time at POA,” he added.
“I cherish the relationships I have formed with my colleagues. All of you have been a source of strength for me and together we have been able to raise POA to the level of professionalism that has been acknowledged internationally. Your honest, forthright and professional opinions always mattered a great deal to me and always led to well considered collective decisions being taken,” he maintained.
“My heartfelt thanks also to every member of the POA Secretariat, whose dedication and skill transformed challenges into successes. Your commitment has been the backbone of our success and I am deeply appreciative of the support and solidarity that have been extended to me throughout my tenure. I never found myself wanting for lack of secretarial support.
“I assure you that I earnestly desire a smooth transition to ensure the continuity of our excellent work. It is my sincere wish that POA continues to thrive and excel, building on the solid foundation we have established together.
“I am deeply thankful for the trust that was placed in me and for the opportunity to lead the Olympic Movement of Pakistan. I step down with a sense of accomplishment and a heart full of gratitude, confident in POA’s bright future and continued success as per its mandate.”
Arif concluded by extending his warmest wishes for success in the future.