LAHORE, April 22: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has assured the Pakistan Hockey Federation of the Government’s allout support for the cause of hockey.

The Prime Minister gave firm assurance during a meeting with the President, Pakistan Hockey Federation, Gen Muhammad Aziz Khan and Secretary, Brig Musarrat Ullah Khan on Monday at a meeting at the Prime Minister’s House.

A top official of the PHF told APP here on Tuesday that during the 90 minutes long meeting, the Prime Minister said more infrastructure and facilities would be created for the overall development of the game.

Gen Aziz briefed the Prime Minister regarding the steps and measures being taken by the National Federation for the revival and promotion of the game at all levels.

Zafar Ullah Jamali, himself a former hockey player and a chairman of the national hockey selection committee, announced to accept all the recommendations put forward by the PHF for the development of the game at the final of the National Hockey Championship in February at the Hockey Club of Pakistan, Karachi.

Some of the recommendations include provision of jobs to hockey players, sportsmen, admission on sports seats in educational institutions, re-activation of sports departments in government institutions and business houses, allocation of real estate to PHF for creating revenue generation projects, becoming a self sufficient institution.

The PHF Chief praised the special interest of the Government for the promotion of sports and the lucrative package announced by President General Pervez Musharraf has given a new life to the sport.

President’s package included an attractive grant, laying of two new astro turfs at Sialkot and Abbotabad besides changing existing plastic surfaces at Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar.

PHF President suggested to the Prime Minister that the remaining amount of Rs 60 million from a total grant of Rs 160 million allocated for installation of synthetic turfs, be utilised on having more similar facilities at Sargodha, Army stadium Rawalpindi and Lahore (Punjab University Ground), besides a summer training camp facility at Azad Kashmir (Rawala Kot).

The Prime Minister who has three decades long association with hockey in different roles, said directives have been issued on some of the recommendations of the PHF and rest would be addressed soon.

“ Hockey is our national sport and we are taking interest for regaining lost glory,” said the Prime Minister.

The President PHF lauded the special interest of the President and Prime Minister for announcing heavy package for hockey and said the such measures were not taken before in the past and with the continuous support of the Government, Pakistan will once again emerge a force on the international hockey scene.

The Prime Minister also expressed his satisfaction over the performance of the senior team which won the Azlan Shah Hockey tournament in Malaysia recently.