The Hero Pakistani Collector's Card scheme was launched by the Pakistan Sports Trust (PST), as a vehicle to promote public-private partnership and raise most needed funds for the development of sports in the country. This was stated by the PST supremo and chief of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), Lieutenant General Arif Hasan, while briefing the media at a local hotel here on Saturday.
The institution of the Pakistan Sports Trust (PST) has been approved by the government of Pakistan, to work for the promotion of sports, education and culture in the country.
In addition, the Trust's mission would be to hunt for and nurture raw talent, from all areas of the country. The sports probables when selected would also be provide with state-of-the-art training and financial assistance to enable more athletes to compete in international sporting events and win laurels for the country.
The funds generated by PST would primarily be spent for sports development while culture and education related activities would also receive considerable support.
Initiation of the collectors scheme would give the opportunity to all Pakistanis to contribute to the national effort of raising the standard of sports and creating new sports heroes in the country.
Under the Hero Card scheme a series of limited edition collector's cards bearing photographs and key achievements of leading sports personalities including Sohail Abbas, Jahangir Khan and Rubab Raza will be available for purchase by collectors for a nominal sum of Rs 30 each. For all practical purposes, the collectors of the cards will then be able to redeem their cards for gifts by handing over 20 collected cards for each gift.
The card will also bear numbers from 1 to 49. If the collector so wishes he or she can choose any six numbers and record the choice into a central computer via on-line sales terminals.
At the end of each week six numbers will be drawn with the help of a drawing machine live on TV and any collector who had chosen the exact same six numbers would be eligible for the bumper prize of Rs 15 million.
In addition, there would also be other prizes for matching numbers less than six.
Thus, the amount collected through the sale of the Hero cards will be utilised by the PST for the development of sports in the country.
"Pakistan Sports Trust is fully committed to hunt for and groom the immense talent in our youth with the objective of creating world champions and gaining international recognition for our country in various sports," said General Arif Hasan.
"For some time now the importance of sports has been ignored in building character and a healthy mind and body. Nations who have taken sports seriously have progressed well," PST Chief added. "As in all other fields as well the PST is determined to bring about a change at the grass roots level," General Arif Hasan said. The Hero Card collectors' scheme is expected to raise funds required to undertake various initiatives that the PST is planning.
To ensure transparency and error free operation of the Hero card scheme, the PST has entered into a collaboration with Comset Services Limited, a technology company borne out of European investment that will be responsible for its marketing, distribution and technical operations.
The cards would only be sold through or line sales terminals that are equipped with bar code scanners and printers. Each Hero Pakistani card carries a unique bar code to prevent duplicity of cards and ensures security of purchase.
Strict security procedures and audit standards will be used to ensure security and transparency of the scheme. The draw would also be broadcast live on TV every week.
Initially the Hero card will be available for purchase in Karachi, Hyderabad, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Gujrat, Gujranwala and Jhelum through a wide network of sales outlets and subsequently people in other cities will also be able to buy the cards in their own cities.