Re: Travel ban imposed on Pakistani athlete, Shahrez Khan
Your Excellency Honourable Prime Minister Sharif, I am writing to you from Australia with concern about the travel restrictions preventing Pakistani athlete, Shahrez Khan, from participating in international sporting events, most recently the IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon World Championship held in Marbella, Spain last weekend.
Shahrez is the only Pakistani to have qualified for the World Championship after earning his place among the world’s elite endurance athletes in the Philippines earlier this year.
Not only was Shahrez’s disqualification from this prestigious event a major setback for Pakistan’s representation in international endurance sports during Pakistan’s ‘Year of Sports Revival’ in 2025 — but was also a disappointment shared by many Pakistanis, fellow athletes and well-wishers across the world.
Besides his deep commitment to showcasing Pakistan on the world stage through endurance sports, Shahrez is actively building a movement which is driven by a vision consistent with the global health goals in its promotion of physical activity and reducing health inequalities.
The health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) are guided by the World Health Organisation’s Global Physical Activity Action Plan which aims for a 15% reduction in physical inactivity by 2030.
As an Australian national and health professional with strong ties to the Pakistani community dating back to 2008, I am immensely proud of the enduring people-to-people links between our countries which are deeply enriched through our shared passion for sports.
It is in this spirit, I join recent calls appealing for a compassionate review of the current travel ban restricting Shahrez Khan’s personal freedoms and have recently denied him of opportunities to represent his country on the world stage with pride.
A respected athlete, business leader and global entrepreneur with ties to Australia and held in high esteem beyond Pakistan, this inspiring individual deserves consideration of his achievements and full support to return to the international race circuit as soon as possible.
Yours Faithfully,
Ms Karen Collier
Former Chair, Centre for Peace & Conflict Studies Council, University of Sydney, Australia, Member, South Asia Studies Group (USYD)
Member, Australasian Society for Traumatic Stress Studies
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