CM Murad approves Rs100m annual grant for Pakistan Hockey Federation

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday approved a Rs100 million annual grant for Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) to promote its activities in the province and vowed to reconstruct hockey stadium.

“I am keen to revive the lost glories of hockey. I would extend you all out support whatever you need but you have to activate your clubs in province and have to start international hockey in the city,” he said talking to a delegation of PHF led by its President Brig (R) Muhammad Khalid Sajjad Khokhar here at CM house.

The other delegation members who attended the meeting include Vice President PHF Tariq Huda, Secretary General PHF Shahbaz Ahmed Senior, Principal Secretary to CM Sohail Rajput, Secretary Finance Hassan Naqvi, Secretary Sports Chief Engineer Karachi Cantonment Board Zohaib Mujahid Bukhari and Chief Engineer Sports Department Aslam Maher.

Read More: CM Sindh vows to restore lost glories of hockey

Muhammad Khalid said that PHF was facing financial problems and could not rebuild the hockey stadium that has been declared as a dangerous building.

On this the chief minister directed the secretary finance to release Rs3.5 million within three days and told the meeting that the provincial government would reconstruct Abdul Sattar Edhi Hockey Stadium. He directed chief engineer sports who was present in the meeting to start survey of the stadium and make its PC-I for his approval.

The PHF chief said that they needed a substantial annual grant so that they could continue their operation all over Sindh.

Murad approved Rs100 million annual grant and directed secretary finance to release it within next 10 days. He also directed secretary finance to include it in the annual budget so that every year the federation could get the budget amount.

In the meeting, it was decided that on January 10, 2018 international hockey event would be held in Karachi. The international players of Hall of Fame would participate in the matches.

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The meeting also decided that the hockey federation would also hold national matches in Karachi and Mirpurkhas. A similar event would also be held for intermediate students within next two months.

The CM urged them to activate hockey clubs in the province. “There should be byelaws of the clubs to be governed by the federation,” he said and added “if the clubs are run professionally we would be able to develop world class players,” he said.

The chief minister said that like cricket, hockey needed to be made commercial. “I’ll help you and support you,” he assured the federation.