On July 13-14, FIDE president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov paid a working visit to Pakistan. In Islamabad he met with H.E., President Asif Ali Zardari and discussed cooperation between FIDE and Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov noted that “Pakistan is the 6^th biggest country in the world by population and the 2^nd in the Muslim world, that’s why the level of development of chess here is very important for FIDE.” He proposed to organize by the end of the year an international chess tournament and to explore the possibility of developing FIDE’s “Chess in school” program.

President Zardari replied “this is a beautiful idea because chess in school program is an investment in the future of our country’s next generation.” Both sides agreed to enter a written agreement in the upcoming future. Furthermore, President Zardari supported the idea of creating a chess center in Karachi and said that local authorities will facilitate in this process.  

At business level, both sides discussed a wide range of bilateral cooperation in natural resources, agriculture and telecommunications. Presidnet Zardari welcomed all proposals of Mr. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov who represents not only FIDE but also Russian and international business interests.

During his visit Kirsan Ilyumzhinov also met the Federal Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources, Dr. Asim Hussain, the Chairman of the Board of Investments, Mr. Saleem Mandviwalla, and the CEO of Interstate Gas Systems Ltd, Mobin Saulat and President of Pakistani Chess Federation, Altaf Ahmad Chaudry.

On July 13 FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov met with President of Pakistan CF, Mr. Altaf Ahmad Chaudhry. The presidents discussed the issues of chess development in the country with population of nearly 200 mln people. As Mr. Chaudhry noted, there is a burning problem of attracting the chess trainers, conducting of seminars and it affects the realization of Chess in Schools programme in the country. There is a lack of chess equipment, particularly chess clocks. In order to popularize chess in Pakistan, the national federation of the country proposed to organize in Islamabad an International chess tournament under the auspices of FIDE.

Photo from the meeting with H.E., President Asif Ali Zardari

Dr. Asim Hussain, Federal Minister for Petroleum & Natural Resources and Kirsan Ilyumzhinov

FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and President of Pakistan Chess Federation Mr. Altaf Ahmad Chaudhry