SIALKOT: The Nawaz Sharif Hockey Stadium and its surroundings present a picture of official neglect and needs an urgent attention to save them for the game.

The Punjab government had built the hockey stadium about three years back and named it after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif with an aim to promote the game under the supervision of the Sialkot District Sports Board and the Pakistan Hockey Federation.

The hockey stadium, inaugurated on March 6, 2013, by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, is in dire need to have a suitable mechanism for its proper look after.

Officials said the Astro Turf and the surrounding areas of the stadium remained inundated with floodwater for about two months in the absence of a proper drainage system.

The floodwater has not only damaged the Astro Turf but also led to growing of reeds all along the Astro Turf and in grounds outside the stadium.

The stadium management has not bothered to clear the reed and several feet high grass which may become the breeding ground for dengue larvae.

Officials said that no hockey event had been held in the stadium for the last several months.

District Coordination Officer Dr Asif Tufail said that TMA staff had been directed to ensure the early drainage of the stagnant flood, rain and sewerage water from the surrounding areas of the hockey stadium.

He said that deep ditches had been created around the hockey stadium after some ‘unknown people’ had stolen the earth from there.

The DCO said that officials concerned had been asked to fill these ditches and convert the area into exquisite lawns.

The DCO admitted that the flood and rain water caused damage to the Astro Turf from various parts.

Published in Dawn October 4th, 2016