ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The federal government has also approved a grant of Rs 250 million for the Pakistan Hockey Team, allowing it to participate in the Pro Hockey League.
This decision was made in a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC).
The participants were told that a total of Rs 350 million is required for the Pro Hockey League.
Rs 250 million will be provided by the federal government, while the remaining Rs 100 million will have to be collected by the Pakistan Hockey Federation itself.
It should be noted that the deadline given to Pakistan by the International Hockey Federation for participation in the Pro Hockey League ended yesterday.
If a decision had not been taken in time, the team would have been out of a major global event.
Secretary IPC Mohiuddin Wani told the meeting that participation in the Pro Hockey League is very important for the future of Pakistan Hockey.
He said that the 10 best teams in the world participate in the event, and participating in it will be beneficial for the experience and ranking of the national team.
In the meeting, the committee members raised questions about the performance of the PHF and constitutional issues.
Member of the National Assembly, Shehla Raza, said that the appointment of the Secretary General is unconstitutional, and it should be reviewed.
She added that Pakistan could not qualify for the Pro Hockey League on merit, but got this opportunity after New Zealand withdrew.
On this occasion, committee member Mehreen Razzaq Bhutto also demanded transparency from the PHF and ensured better performance so that government funding can be used properly.
On the other hand, Secretary Federation Rana Mujahid informed the committee that the Pro Hockey League is the biggest hockey event in the world, and participation in it is inevitable for Pakistan.
He said that participation in the league will give young players experience in world-class competitions. The national team may also get a chance to regain its lost identity.
