National Assembly Committee on 12 November 2026: Rs 6 Billion for SAF Games, FA Needed for Tour Guides in Pakistan
A National Assembly committee heard on 12 November 2026 that Rs 6 billion is set for the SAF Games, tour guides need FA, and 3 tourism bills await assent.
Short answer: The National Assembly's Standing Committee on Inter Provincial Coordination met on 12 November 2026. It heard that Rs 6 billion has been set aside for the coming SAF Games, that licensed tour operators and guides need at least an FA and training, and that three tourism amendment bills await the President's assent. The Pakistan Football Federation told members it plans to finish FIFA's required changes to its constitution in the first quarter of 2027.
We read the committee's press release on na.gov.pk on the evening of 12 November. The meeting was held in Committee Room 7 at Parliament House, Islamabad, at 11 am, with Dr Mahreen Razzaq Bhutto, MNA, in the chair as acting chairperson. The Assembly itself is not sitting. It was prorogued on 30 October, but its committees keep meeting. Two other committees, on the Cabinet Secretariat and on Religious Affairs, were listed to meet the same day, but no results had been posted for them when we checked.
Rs 6 billion has been set aside for the SAF Games
The Inter Provincial Coordination Ministry told members that Rs 6 billion has been allocated for the upcoming South Asian (SAF) Games. The release does not give dates or a host city for the Games. It also said that after the 18th Amendment, sports powers and more than 80 per cent of sports funding went to the provinces.
That second point explains why a federal ministry spends relatively little on sport. Most grounds, coaching and district events are provincial now.
| Item | What the committee heard |
|---|---|
| SAF Games budget | Rs 6 billion allocated |
| Sports funding after the 18th Amendment | More than 80 per cent with the provinces |
| Tour operator and guide licence | At least FA, plus required training |
| Tourism amendment bills | 3 bills, passed by both houses, awaiting the President's assent |
| Football federation constitution | FIFA changes due by end of December 2026, PFF aims to finish in Q1 2027 |
| Football academy | Planned in Quetta, near Ayub Complex |
Licensed tour guides and tour operators need at least an FA
The Department of Tourist Services (DTS) told members that the minimum qualification for a licensed tour operator or tour guide is FA, the intermediate certificate, plus required training. DTS is the federal office that regulates travel agencies, tour operators, guides, hotels and restaurants under federal tourism laws.
DTS also said that provinces now run their own tourism authorities, and that this has made registration difficult. In practice, a business may face both a federal and a provincial registration. The release does not say which one a new guide should apply to first.
The committee gave DTS three tasks:
- Give full audit details of travel agencies run by government bodies.
- Submit a list of registered tour guides and the languages each one speaks, so foreign visitors can get a guide in their own language.
- Provide the registration fees and fines collected from tourism companies over the last five years.
No deadline was set for these. If you are planning a group trip with a foreign visitor, our guide to the group tourist visa through a designated tour operator explains when a licensed operator is required.
Hajj and Umrah complaints can go to two offices
DTS told the committee that Hajj and Umrah operators fall under the Travel Agencies Act, and that complaints against them are handled by both the Ministry of Religious Affairs and DTS. So a pilgrim with a complaint has two doors, not one.
That matters in Umrah season. If an agent takes your money and the visa never comes, you can complain to either office. Our guides explain how to complain against a Hajj or Umrah operator and how to check that an agent is licensed before you pay.
Three tourism bills await the President's assent
Three tourism amendment bills were passed by the Senate on 10 June 2026 and by the National Assembly on 27 October 2026. They have gone to the President for assent. The release does not name the three laws or say what they change. A bill becomes law only after assent and publication in the Gazette, so nothing has changed for travel businesses yet.
You can follow any bill on the Assembly website. Our guide to checking the National Assembly agenda and bills shows where.
The football federation aims to fix its constitution in early 2027
The Pakistan Football Federation told members it had been largely non-functional for about eight years. FIFA has held elections and recognised the result. FIFA will send the changes it wants in the federation's constitution by the end of December 2026, and the federation plans to complete them in the first quarter of 2027. FIFA's money for Pakistan is linked to meeting these conditions.
A football academy is planned in Quetta, near the Ayub Complex, using existing grounds that need changes. The committee asked the federation to improve sports facilities in other Balochistan districts too, not only Quetta. It also adopted a sub-committee report presented by Dr Bhutto and told the ministry to carry out its recommendations.
Common questions
How much has Pakistan allocated for the SAF Games?
Rs 6 billion, the National Assembly's Inter Provincial Coordination committee was told on 12 November 2026.
What qualification does a tour guide need in Pakistan?
At least FA plus required training for a licence, according to the Department of Tourist Services.
Where do I complain about an Umrah agent?
To the Ministry of Religious Affairs or the Department of Tourist Services. DTS told the committee that both handle complaints.
Are the tourism amendment bills law yet?
No. They were passed by both houses and sent for the President's assent. They take effect only after assent and Gazette publication.
When will the PFF change its constitution?
The federation aims to finish in the first quarter of 2027, after FIFA sends its required changes by the end of December 2026.
Is the National Assembly in session?
No. It was prorogued on 30 October 2026, but its standing committees keep meeting.
Sources: National Assembly of Pakistan committee press release on the 16th meeting of the Standing Committee on Inter Provincial Coordination, 12 November 2026, on na.gov.pk. Last checked 12 November 2026.
About the author
Global Affairs & Political Economy Writer
Muhammad Hatim is a book lover who started writing because he enjoys it. At Pakistan Era he writes about international relations, geopolitics and the global economy, with a particular interest in South Asia and the forces behind current events.
