ISLAMABAD The federal government has chalked out a stringent security plan for two top officials of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) for their scheduled visit to Pakistan next week, Dawn has learnt on authority on Saturday.
FIH President Leandro Negre and European Hockey Federation (FEH) Secretary General David Balbrine are scheduled to visit Pakistan from Oct 13 to 16.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation has dubbed the visit of the officials as 'resuscitation of the game in the country'.
Insiders close to the development told Dawn 'They [FIH and FEH heads] will be given a status of state guests during the visit and will be provided with VVIP security cover on a maiden visit to Pakistan,' said an official of the federal government. Pakistan Hockey Federation has been trying for the past few years to revive international hockey in the country, however, they [PHF] have failed to lure international teams which are refusing to visit Pakistan citing security concerns.
The official on the condition of anonymity said 'The top international hockey officials are scheduled to arrive in Lahore on Oct 13 and will be the guests of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.'
'They will be provided a special chartered plane by the Punjab chief minister,' he maintained.
The FIH and FEH heads, he said, would visit the federal capital on Oct 14.
He added, 'The international hockey officials will call on President Asif Ali Zardari and the Federal Sports Minister Pir Aftab Shah Jilani on Oct 14 while on Oct 15, they will inaugurate Benazir Bhutto All Pakistan Gold Cup Hockey Tournament.' The tournament is scheduled to be held from Oct 15 to 25 at the Pakistan Sports Complex in which around 30 regional and departmental teams would test their mettle.
Commenting on the security details, the senior official said that the Federal Sports Secretary Anisul Hasnain Moosvi, PHF's President Qasim Zia, tournament organising secretary Mustfain Kazmi and senior federal government officials had met the Interior Secretary Qamar Zaman to finalise security plan for the officials.
When approached, the spokesman of the Federal Sports Ministry, Faik Ali, said 'The Federal Interior Ministry and Cabinet Division have assured foolproof security for the visiting officials from the arrival date till their departure.'
