ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Army on Monday sent a security contingent to Qatar to provide protection to the FIFA World Cup 2022 which is scheduled to take place in the Middle Eastern country in November.

Pakistan’s information ministry announced in August the federal cabinet had approved a draft agreement to provide troops for the security of the tournament shortly before Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the Arab state where he was also taken to a football stadium.

While the prime minister’s visit focused on a broad range of bilateral issues, he was briefed by the Qatari authorities on how they were preparing for the upcoming World Cup.

“A Pakistan Army security contingent left for Qatar from Noor Khan Air Base to handle the security of FIFA World Cup 2022,” said an official statement released by the relevant authorities. “This contingent consists of officers, junior commissioned officers and soldiers of the Pakistan Army.”

The statement revealed that an eight-member international FIFA team visited Pakistan in September to train the army contingent and brief them on the security arrangements.

“The Qatar government had requested Pakistan for security assistance during FIFA World Cup 2022,” the statement added. “In this regard, a four-member delegation of the Qatari Ministry of Interior also visited Pakistan in August.”

The FIFA World Cup is among the most prestigious sporting events which is widely followed by people across the globe.

The tournament has been held every four years since it was first arranged in 1930, though it could not take place in 1942 and 1946 due to the Second World War.

The last football World Cup was held in Russia in 2018 where France won the championship.