The PHF is getting worried about final preparations for next year’s Olympic Games as both federal and Punjab governments are yet to start work on laying down astroturf in Islamabad and Lahore.
The turfs are necessary as the same kinds of pitches will be used in London. Sources told Dawn that the federal government has not taken a single step to lay down the turf at the Islamabad Sports Complex despite the approval given by the prime minister.
The sources, on the other hand, claimed the provincial government had allocated the funds of Rs30 million to lay down the turf at the National Hockey Stadium but the Punjab Sports Directorate has not taken any step to get the funds.
“Despite the fact that time is running short as a tedious process is required to import turf, no concrete steps are being taken at the government levels to lay down the pitch to provide an opportunity to the players to have maximum training,” a PHF official told Dawn on request of anonymity.
The official said the PHF had done its job by getting approval from the prime minister and Punjab chief minister, and now it is the task of the respective sports authorities to take necessary action to complete the projects.
The astroturf at the National Hockey Stadium has already expired but as no foreign team is touring Pakistan due to security problems the Punjab government is yet to take interest in changing the turf.
news covered by dawn sports
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