ISLAMABAD, May 17: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has approved a comprehesive plan for the development of hockey at grassroots level.

“I have discussed the plan with the prime minister and he has approved it,” said the president of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Gen Muhammad Aziz Khan on Friday.

Traditionally, the prime minister is also the patron-in-chief of PHF.

Speaking at “Khail aur Khilari” programme of PTV, Gen Aziz said the resumption of hockey ties between Pakistan and India would be useful for the subcontinent brand of the game.

“The two respective federations are in touch with each other and PHF is ready to hold bilateral contests even on neutral grounds”.

About victory at Azlan Shah, he said a lot is to be done still if the winning streak was to continue though the victory underlined “a small light” for Pakistan hockey.

He said indiscipline would not be tolerated and that’s why three senior players had been ignored for the forthcoming twin tournaments in Australia.

He also called for promotion of sports at grassroots with astroturf at every tehsil level and for sponsorships from philanthropists.

Pakistan Amateur Boxing Federation president Prof Anwar Chowdhry thanked President Pervez Musharraf for encouraging the boxers but called for action against those federations which didn’t deliver.—APP