LAHORE, June 18: The Punjab government would not give complete control of its three stadiums to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), disclosed provincial sports minister Naeemullah Khan Shahani on Saturday.

The provincial minister said he had talked to the chief minister on the subject and he (CM) agreed that the interests of the province would be protected and a formal agreement would be made with the PCB keeping that in mind.

PCB chairman Shaharyar M. Khan, who met Punjab chief minister a few days back and stated that the PCB had been given control of Multan Stadium, Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad and Pindi Stadium in Rawalpindi.

Mr Shahani said that it would be ensured that the clubs were not denied entry into the stadiums.

“The PCB has already taken over control of Qadhafi Stadium where a club can not even think of playing there. The government will not repeat this mistake again,” he said.

He said the provincial government would also make sure that its financial interests were secure while handing over the stadiums to the PCB.

In the past, he added, the PCB had failed to give 20 per cent of income it earned from renting out shops in and around Qadhafi Stadium, which it was bound to under a deed.

“The lease was signed between the Punjab government and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in 1995 about a share of 20 per cent but not a single paisa was paid during this period and now the total arrears come around Rs20 million,” the minister said.

He said that the PCB had, in principle, agreed to pay the amount to the government.

About the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), he said the PHF had also become a burden on the Punjab government as it had not been paying even the utility bills.

The PHF offices are situated in the National Hockey Stadium, Lahore, which is a property of Punjab government and Punjab Sports Department is its custodian.

“Not to mention rent for 17,000 square feet the PHF has for its offices, the federation is not even paying its electricity bills,” he said.

Director General Punjab Sports Board Munawwar Abbas said after he served a notice for paying Rs1.7 million electricity dues, the PHF agreed to pay Rs100,000 per month, but it paid just one instalment.

He said the PHF was also earning money from hoardings in and outside of the National Hockey Stadium, despite the fact that it was not its property.