A 13-year-old Pakistani chess player is helping bring the game to schools through a new pilot initiative aimed at making chess more accessible to students.
Aayat Asmi, a Class 9 student at Learning Alliance International, presented her vision for introducing chess at the school level to the Education and Sports Minister. Following the meeting, she was invited to help launch a pilot project covering 10 schools.
Aayat has since been connected with a designated focal person to coordinate the initiative. Over the next four to six months, the project will introduce structured chess activities while engaging students and teachers.
The pilot will also track participation, feedback and outcomes to assess how chess can be incorporated into schools. The initiative aims to use the game to promote strategic thinking, problem-solving, concentration and decision-making alongside its role as a competitive sport.
Aayat has already represented Pakistan internationally and holds the Woman Candidate Master (WCM) title, which she earned while competing for the country at the Chess Olympiad in Hungary.
She also represented Pakistan at the World Schools Team Chess Championship in Kazakhstan, where she won a bronze medal.
Her efforts have previously received national recognition. In August 2023, Punjab Governor Baligh-ur-Rehman awarded her a Certificate of Excellence at Governor House, while then Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Wahab Riaz presented her with a Rs. 50,000 award in Lahore.
What began as a student-led initiative is now being developed into a structured 10-school pilot, potentially creating a pathway for wider school-level chess participation across Punjab.
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