Muhammad Shafiq

Muhammad Shafiq was born on 11 November 1953 in Lyallpur, Dominion of Pakistan (now Faisalabad, Pakistan). He started both his educational and athletics career from Muslim High School, Tariqabad, Lyallpur where he completed his secondary school in 1970. After that he got enrolled to Government Degree College, Lyallpur where first he completed his higher secondary education in 1972 and after that obtained his bachelor's degree in 1975. The college was then affiliated with University of the Punjab, Lahore.

He completed his Master of Science degree in Rural Sociology from University of Agriculture, Faisalabad in 1981 and his Master of Science degree in Health and Physical Education from Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan in 1990. He had also done a Sports Specialization Course (Athletics trainer) from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany in 1982.^{[citation needed]}

Shafiq entered Asian Handball Federation (AHF) in 1986, he previously held the position of member in AHF Development & Publicity Commission (1992 – 1996) and AHF Playing Rules and Referees Commission (1996 – 2000) before being elected to AHF Council as Chairman of AHF Under Development Countries Commission (2004 – 2009) and then as Chairman of AHF Commission of Youth and School Handball (2009 – 2013). On 25 October 2013, he succeeded Indian sports administrator Dr. Roshan Lal Anand and was elected as AHF Secretary General.^[3]

Shafiq is founder of handball in Pakistan. He is also the co-founder of Pakistan Handball Federation (PHF) in April 1985 and was elected as its Secretary General.^[4] He is the longest serving PHF Secretary General, holding the position for 24 years from 1985 – 2004 and then from 2007 – 2012. Currently, he is PHF President since December 2012.^[5][6] Under his leadership, the performance of Pakistan men's national handball team and Pakistan national beach handball team are at their best as they won many medals which include gold medal in 2nd edition of Asian Beach Handball Championship 2007 held at Bandar Abbas, gold medal in 1st Asian Beach Games 2008 held at Bali, and gold medals in 2010 and 2019 editions of the South Asian Games.^[7]

Shafiq also held various positions in other sports federations which has included Treasurer of Pakistan Olympic Association since February 2012 to date.^[8][9] He was elected as Vice-President (1991 – 2000; 2009 – 2013) and Secretary General (2000 – 2009) of South Asian Handball Federation. He is a member of Working Group of Commonwealth Handball Association and National Course Director of Pakistan NOC. He is also a member of International Track and Field Coaches Association since 1985.