ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army has decided to provide a grant of Rs50 million to the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) for uplift of the national game.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has decided that PHF would be given the amount out of Army’s Welfare Fund.

“PHF president retired Brig Khalid Sajjad Khokhar called on the COAS and during the meeting, COAS pledged Rs 50 million out of Army’s Welfare Fund for PHF,” a press release issued by ISPR on Friday said.

“During the meeting the PHF president briefed COAS on steps being taken to regain the standard of hockey across the country.”

The news release added that the Army had always supported sports and especially hockey, adding that that government is keen to revive the sport.

According to ISPR, Army has already made two Astroturf Stadiums available to PHF in Rawalpindi and Okara.

The PHF president had also called on Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is also patron of the PHF, a few days ago.

During that meeting, the Prime Minister had directed the PHF to make structural changes in its setup and also reduce the numbers of teams for national championship and establish centre of excellence in all four provinces.

Pakistan was once regarded as a hockey giant, but the standards of the game saw huge decline during the last two decades.

The national team, which boasts three Olympic gold medals and four World Cups, could not qualify for this year’s Tokyo Olympics which were postponed to next year because of Covid-19.

PHF secretary Asif Bajwa termed the financial support announced by the Amy Chief as a “positive gesture”.

“We are highly thankful to Army Chief for this wonderful step for the national game,” he told Dawn.

Asked about any potential grant from the federal government, Bajwa said that the meeting with Prime Minister was very positive and the premier in principle agreed with demands of PHF.

“The PHF has started working on proposals on the directive of the Prime Minister,” he added.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2020