ISLAMABAD
\nThe government\u2019s ongoing efforts to revive Pakistan\u2019s national sport, hockey, have taken a major hit as the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has sharply increased usage charges for the Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium\u2014shifting focus from athlete development to revenue generation.
\nAccording to details, the PSB has raised the daily usage fee for the stadium in Islamabad from Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 5,700\u2014a staggering hike of nearly 300%\u2014affecting registered hockey clubs in the federal capital.
\nIn response, affiliated clubs under the Islamabad Hockey Association (IHA) have written to the Advisor to Prime Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Rana Sanaullah and IPC Secretary Mohyuddin Wani, urging them to intervene and reverse the increase. They warned that the steep fees pose a serious financial burden on young players and grassroots training programs.
\nThe clubs emphasized that this move directly contradicts the government\u2019s declared commitment\u2014especially by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Minister Sanaullah, and Secretary Mohyuddin Wani\u2014to promote and revive hockey at the grassroots level.
\nThe Rising Stars Hockey Club along with other clubs, have been actively promoting hockey by offering free training sessions for schools and colleges boys and girls over the past several years.
\nThe club stressed that such initiatives are crucial for youth development and for rebuilding Pakistan\u2019s legacy in international hockey. \u201cThe youth are the future of Pakistan,\u201d the letter stated, \u201cand engaging them in structured, healthy activities like hockey is essential\u2014not just for personal growth but also for restoring the sport\u2019s national pride.\u201d
\nThe letter concluded with a plea for immediate action, stressing that easing the financial burden on local clubs is key to sustaining the momentum for a national hockey revival. \u201cThe facility should ideally be free or heavily subsidized,\u201d said a former international player.
\n\u201cThe government should invest in the sport instead of commercializing it to the point of extinction.\u201d The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is also being urged to take up the matter with PSB officials, advocating on behalf of players who rely on regular training sessions to maintain form and fitness.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD The government\u2019s ongoing efforts to revive Pakistan\u2019s national sport, hockey, have taken a major hit as the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has sharply increased usage charges for the Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium\u2014shifting focus from athlete development to revenue generation. According to details, the PSB has raised the daily usage fee for the stadium in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":345594,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-484962","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n