LAHORE: Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary Rana Mujahid said on Thursday that the grant of Rs100 million announced by the Punjab government will serve as oxygen for the cash-starved federation which requires Rs500 million annually to conduct its activity programme.

“We thank Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for lending support to the PHF at a time when its kitty is almost empty, and the situation has become so grim that it has become hard for the federation to send teams abroad for taking part in tournaments,” Mujahid told reporters at a news conference here at the National Hockey Stadium.

He said the chief minister had also set up a committee headed by provincial Sports Minister Rana Mashood for the revival of hockey at grass roots level as well as at educational institutions.

The committee, he said, will work in close coordination with the PHF for ensuring steps to revive and develop the game by suggesting ways and means by taking into consideration proposals of former Olympians.

“With the announcement of grant by the Punjab CM, we are confident that our team will be able to participate in next month’s Azlan Shah Cup,” he said. “This grant is a ray of hope for us and we are optimistic that the federal government will also extend its financial support to steer the PHF out of financial crunch.”

The PHF official said they had submitted a report to Inter-Provincial Coordination Ministry requesting them to provide adequate financial help to the PHF needing around Rs500 million per year for its activities.

“The PHF has also prepared its annual budget and submitted it to the Pakistan Sports Board. We have requested them to provide necessary funds for the participation of teams in international tournaments abroad, besides functioning of hockey academies across the country and organisation of tournaments at home,” he maintained.

He said PHF wanted to send its team to the Asian Games being held in South Korea later this year, adding it will follow the direction from the Ministry of IPC amid an administrative dispute within the national Olympic committee featuring two groups opposing each other.—APP