RAWALPINDI: Residents of the garrison city have been waiting for the last two years to see fulfillment of promise made by the Punjab government to lay AstroTurf at Shahnaz Sheikh Hockey Stadium.

The stadium was inaugurated by the Punjab Sports Board chairman and MNA, Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, on April 14, 2012.

While inaugurating the stadium, the junior Sharif had announced Rs66 million for the installation of floodlights and AstroTurf.

He had announced that funds would be released within a few months.

However, despite the passage of two years, even the spadework for installation of floodlight and AstroTurf is yet to take off.

Admitting delay in start of this project, PML-N MPA Chaudhry Sarfraz Afzal, who is also parliamentary secretary of Punjab Youth Affairs, Sports and Tourism, said that he had taken up the issue with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Hamza Shahbaz for the release of funds for this project.

Talking to Dawn on Monday, he said that abandoning the project was out of question.

“PC-1 of the project has been completed… I hope in next few days funds would be released for floodlights and AstroTurf,” he said.

The ground is situated adjacent to Muslim School Saidupr Road, and was named after the former renowned hockey player Shahnaz Sheikh.

“We are restlessly waiting for AstroTurf at this ground.... as we have no proper facility across the Rawalpindi district to play hockey,” said, Rizwan Khan, a local hockey player.

He demanded that the Punjab government should fulfill promise, which it had made with the residents of Rawalpindi before the general elections.

Talking to Dawn, Shahnaz Sheikh, who represented Pakistan from 1969 to 1979, said that Rawalpindi had produced more than 20 Olympians but unfortunately during the last 15 years, this city could not produce even a single player owing to lack of infrastructure,.

He demanded release of funds for this much needed project.

“Players of Rawalpindi used to play hockey at Army Stadium... but due to security reasons that facility has been closed for civilian,” he said.

Former renowned forward, who scored 45 goals for Pakistan, said that youngsters of Rawalpindi after closing of Army Stadium were now solely depending on the said stadium, which should be completed without any delay.

“Recently, during youth games, I noticed that youngsters of Rawalpindi Division have a lot of potential. I believe this ground will produce a number of national players,” he said.

Talking to Dawn, Divisional Sports Officer, Munzar Shah said that after completing paper work of the project a summary had been sent to Director General Sports, Punjab for final approval of funds.

He said that Rs90 million were required for completion of the project.

The sports officer said that usually domestic level competitions of hockey were played at AstroTurf and players of Rawalpindi region could not perform well, as they had no experience to play on AstroTurf.