LAHORE, June 15: The Punjab Olympic Association has thanked the Punjab government for increasing annual grant of the Punjab Sports Board to Rs40 million but demanded to raise the amount further to Rs100 million.

In a press statement on Friday, Punjab Olympic Association secretary-general Khawaja Idris Haider said the grant was not sufficient as Punjab is the largest province of the country.

The Punjab government had announced the financial budget for 2007-08 on Thursday and increased the grant from Rs10.08 million to Rs40 million. The increase was made after a long period of 26 years.

The secretary-general also urged the Punjab Sports Board to increase annual grants-in-aid of all sports associations of the province.