Arshad Nadeem returned to Pakistan in the early hours of Sunday to a grand reception.
Government officials including the provincial and federal ministers, the Olympic hero’s family and his fans in large number arrived at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport to receive Nadeem.
Nadeem returned home via Turkish Airlines flight TK-174, which departed 27 minutes late from Istanbul Airport and landed at the Lahore airport at 1:25.
On the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the flight — carrying the national hero — was welcomed with a water cannon salute at the airport.
Federal Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Prime Minister Youth Program Chairman Rana Mashhood, Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima and Khawaja Saad Rafique — on behalf of the government— welcomed Nadeem at the airport.
While interacting with journalists at the airport, Nadeem said he was “grateful to Allah” for his great achievement during the Paris Olympics 2024. He also thanked the nation for the respect and honour it has bestowed on him.
He later made his way to Mian Chanu his hometown where the Olympian got emotional as he saw his mother and fell at her feat.
The emotional and touching images can be seen here:
