ISLAMABAD The Pakistan Volleyball Federation has asked for an immediate financial bailout from the government to avoid default on public loans it received for the promotion of sport.
 
An official of the PVF told Dawn on Monday 'We are running pillar to post to cover our training expenses and are in dire need of urgent financial support from the government to revive the sport in the country.'
 
The Ministry of Sports provides Rs1.5 million to the PVF every year but the federation has had to take private sponsors to manage its expenditures.
 
'Our expenses,' the official said, 'are more than Rs10 million which includes foreign visits, training camps, youth development programmes and sponsorship for the national tournaments.'
 
Federation had taken loans from individuals to manage the cost of its two international tours.
 
The PVF, he said, had recently completed a nine-day training tour in Thailand which had cost Rs1.5 million. The money was spent on cost related to travelling, boarding and lodging of the volleyball contingent.
 
The official added that around 250 players were registered with the PVF during the last national level competition.

The federation had also taken loans from private individuals to finance the ongoing Iranian visit of the Pakistani squad.

The 12-member squad is on a week long tour to Iran to feature in the second stage of 2010 World Cup Volleyball Championship.

Pakistan volleyball team claimed a gold medal in the recently held first round of the 2010 World Championship qualification tournament played here.

Regarding financial package of the Iranian coach, the official pointed out 'The Iranian coach, Ali Reza Moameri, is currently being paid US$3000 and now he (Moemeri) is demanding an increase in salary of US$2000.'

'We are waiting for an approved special grant from the ministry finance of around Rs1.5 million while Rs2 million has been promised by the Pakistan Sports Trust,' the official said.