ISLAMABAD, March 15: The Senate Standing Committee for Sports has called for providing financial and infrastructural support in an effort to promote hockey in the country and also urged the authorities to give cash awards to junior team for winning four-nations tournament in Lahore.

The Senate Standing Committee on Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth Affairs met in the Parliament House on Tuesday under the Chairmanship of Senator Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry.

It observed that the overall performance of Pakistan hockey team has not been consistent during the last couple of years and called upon the government to provide maximum financial and infrastructural support to Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) for the promotion of hockey in the country.

The members of the Committee lauded the performance of Pakistan Juniors team which won the four-nation tournament last Sunday. The Committee recommended that the players of the team should be given cash awards so as to encourage the players to put in their best.

The Committee expressed the view that the steps were needed to promote hockey and other games at gross-roots level. The members were of the view that the players should be given incentives and steps should be taken to generate public interest in games.

The Committee was informed that the government has been taking various steps to improve the performance of Pakistan team. It was pointed out that the government was increasing annual and special grant to PHF and provision and promotion of hockey infrastructure in the country.

It was told that the prime minister has issued directive for provision of jobs on sports basis besides allowing 40 per cent concession in railway fares and reservation of quota for sportspersons for admission in educational institutions.—APP