ISLAMABAD: A Senate panel on Tuesday seriously took up a report finalized by a sub-committee recommending change of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) President and Secretary, immediately and replaced with competent, professional and visionary leadership.

The Senate Standing Committee on Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) which met here at Parliament House with Senator Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan Nasar, was presented a report of three-member sub-committee.

The sub-committee headed by Senator Walid Iqbal with Senator Lt Gen (retired) Salahuddin Tirmizi and Senators Seemee Ezdi as members, finalized the report on the issues with regarda to the dismal state of the national sports of Hockey.

The sub-committee recommended that incumbent President [Brig retired Khaild Sajjad Khokhar] and Secretary be replaced with professional, competent and far-sighted leaderships. It also said that the forensic audit of PHF, being conducted by the office of Auditor General of Pakistan, as soon as possible and its report should be promptly furnished to the Senate Standing Committee on IPC, and, should any financial misappropriation thereby come to light, the matter and persons involved be referred to the authorities concerned.

The report said that new PHF leadership should be formed and following steps should be taken. It said that students in schools and colleges must be motivated to play the game, PHF should provide coaching facilities, and Provincial Sports Boards should be included in revival measures. “ PHF may generate funds to its own for domestic as well as international tournaments. While players must be adequately compensated. They should be provided jobs and job security. Strong support of the government in directing various departments and banks should thr best support giving permanent job opportunities to hockey players to revive the game,” read the report.

It also said that at least 200 synthetic playgrounds should be setup across Pakistan keeping in mind the prevalent modern playing conditions. The report also stated that if international hockey is to be brought back to Pakistan and public interest is to be generated in the game, exposure must be given to our own players to play with foreign players.”PTV should telecast international matches and finals of domestic national championship in order to popularize the game and should devote prime time to the national game in shape of discussion and talk show,” the report said.

The six-page report also said that currently, hockey team does not seem to compete with stronger western sides, therefore, we need to select at least 50 young players from all over Pakistan. Most of these players should be tall and fit and should have robust physique and athletic body.

The IPC committee will discuss the report in upcoming meetings in details. However, during the Tuesday meeting, an officer of IPC ministry told the committee that forensic audit of PHF has almost been completed by Auditor General of Pakistan, which has promised with IPC ministry that report will be shared in June.

It is relevant to note here the sub-committee in its report also carried the details of cash withdrawal by the incumbent management of PHF from the federation’s accounts which included 27 single signature cash withdrawals over the last about three years amounting to Rs 56,123,180 .

It is relevant to note here Brig Khohkar led PHF during its previous and current tenure, received over 600 million rupees from the federal and provincial governments while in addition to this, it also received amount in term of rent from PHF Property in Karachi and sponsors money. However, the performance of the national team remained very disappointed during these all years, as even Pakistan could not qualify for next year’s Tokyo Olympic, for not participating in Pro-League.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2019