LAHORE (Abdul Basit): The Lahore Polo Club and Allied Bank Limited (ABL) have officially signed a high-profile sponsorship agreement for two of the country’s most prestigious polo tournaments.
The signing ceremony took place at the Lahore Polo Club, where Malik Azam Hayat Noon, President of LPC, and Syed Nabeel Ahmad, Group Head of Marketing at Allied Bank, finalised the partnership. Under this agreement, Allied Bank will serve as the title sponsor for the historic Punjab Cup, the oldest sporting trophy in the region, and the National Open Polo Championship for the Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup, widely regarded as the pinnacle of polo in Pakistan.
The ceremony was attended by a distinguished cohort of sports and banking officials, including LPC Executive Committee member Feroze Gulzar, senior member Agha Najib, and Secretary Maj Amjad Ghafoor. Representing Allied Bank were Abid Anwar (Chief CRBG North), Hasnain Raza Mirza (Group Head CRBG North-1), M Bin Zaheer (Divisional Head Marketing & Corporate), and Harun Latif (Unit Head Marketing & Brand Development).
Addressing the gathering, LPC President Malik Azam Hayat Noon expressed his gratitude to Allied Bank for their patronage. He emphasised that these tournaments are inseparable from the cultural fabric of Lahore, noting that the Punjab Cup has been contested at the Lahore Polo Club since 1886, making it a living monument of sporting history.
Syed Nabeel Ahmad, Group Head of Marketing at Allied Bank, highlighted the bank’s commitment to social and cultural preservation. “Sports like Polo need to be preserved and passed onto the next generation,” he remarked. “It is events like these that bring the best out of players and those who appreciate this kingly sport. This partnership serves as a stepping stone towards that goal where ABL wants to lead the way and show that we are more than a bank.”
He further added that supporting a sport with such deep historical roots in Lahore aligns perfectly with Allied Bank’s mission to champion positive national activities. The collaboration is expected to elevate the stature of the upcoming season, attracting international players and massive crowds to the historic grounds of the Lahore Polo Club.
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