BAHAWALPUR, March 16: Four former hockey Olympians Motiullah, Samiullah, Kalimullah and Dr Atif Bashir, in a joint statement here on Thursday, urged the Punjab government to immediately complete the formalities to lay an astroturf at the hockey ground of the Bahawalpur Stadium.

On the eve of the visit of President Gen Pervez Musharraf, who is due here Friday, the hockey stars regretted the attitude of the officials of the Punjab government and said the project was sanctioned six years ago and Rs30 million were released for it.

But, due to frequent objections of the officials posted at Lahore the project was delayed as a result of which its cost increased to Rs60 million.

They appealed to the president and the chief minister to intervene and provide this facility to the local hockey players.