LAHORE, Aug 13: The Punjab government has released the funds of Rs30.5 million to lay down a new Astroturf pitch of blue colour, the first one of its kind in Pakistan, at the National Hockey Stadium.

The reason is to provide facility to the Pakistan Hockey Federation to prepare its team for the London Olympics.

A spokesman of the Punjab Sports Department told Dawn that the amount was released on Saturday after a high-level meeting, which also approved funds for other mega sports projects for Lahore and other cities.

The spokesman said the turf would be laid down in next two months and the PHF would have enough time to prepare its team for the Olympics, which will be held in July-August next year.

The FIH has approved blue-colour synthetic turf for the London Olympics.