LAHORE, Jan 7: Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has decided to hold elections under the new sports policy.

Earlier, the PFF has expressed its inability to the federal sports ministry about holding the elections, citing FIFA will not permit a mid-term elections. The PFF elections were due in 2003.

The PFF secretary, Syed Agha Liaqat Ali, told Dawn Monday that the elections were being held from tehsil to federation level. All the process, he said would be completed till March 15.

Liaquat said that he had appointed conveners for all the four provinces to conduct the elections. Nasim Khan Niazi is appointed convener for the Punjab, Ali Mohammed Balouch for Sindh, Maazaullah for NWFP and Raheem Agha for Balochistan.

The provincial convener would appoint a convener for each district of their respective province. The tehsil level elections, the PFF secretary said would be completed till Jan 15 and the district level elections till Feb 15. The PFF elections, he added were to be held till March 15.

While replying to a question, the PFF secretary said that the PFF president Mian Mohammed Azhar had informed him that a plot for the Football House had been acquired from the Punjab government. The plot was situated near the under construction Punjab Stadium in front of the Gaddafi Stadium.

He said that to approve the plan made by the PFF for the Goal Project, the FIFA representative Manilal Fernando would come to Pakistan on Jan 24.

He said that the English coach John Layton, who is provided by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), would prepare national U-14, 16 and 17 teams while another AFC provided coach Joseph Herel of the Slovenia would train national Under-20, 23 and the Senior teams.

Pakistan will host the Asia Cup Under-20 qualifying round at Karachi from April 26 to May 2. Pakistan will also take part in the Asia Cup Under-17 qualifying round which had been allotted to Turkmenistan.

Meanwhile Layton said Monday that he would meet the PFF president Mian Mohammed Azhar to get instructions about his fresh assignments.

Talking to reporters Layton who had left Pakistan under the instructions of his government after the Sept 11 attacks in New York and Washington and returned back at Islamabad on Jan 1, 2002 said that he would hold camps in each provincial capital before picking up the probable for the national Under-17 camp.

 He said that the national camp was likely to be started from the next month. The AFC Under-17 qualifying round is to be held in Turkmenistan from May 1, 2002.

SADA adds: An official of Pakistan Football Federation Monday confirmed that they got verbal approval from the International Football Federation (FIFA) over US $400,000 grant under its Goal Project.

“The PFF has been conveyed verbally that FIFA has approved the grant under its Goal Project.

It will be a huge boost for Pakistan football,” PFF Secretary Agha Liaquat Ali said.