Senate body expresses concern over deteriorating standard of hockey
By Asim Hussain

ISLAMABAD—The Senate Standing Committee on Culture, Sports and Tourism which met here on Friday under the Chairmanship of Senator Zafar Iqbal has expressed its deep concern over the rapidly
deteriorating standard of the Pakistan Hockey Team and has directed the Pakistan Hockey Federation to redouble it efforts for reviving the past glory. These views were expressed by the committee while discussing the PHF affairs with newly appointed set up of the federation.
The issue of provincial hockey federation’s election in NWFP was also discussed during the meeting at length. The Committee observed that sanctity of the elections should not be compromised and the parties concerned should be brought to the negotiating table to resolve the outstanding issues. The Committee further directed the PHF Secretary General to submit a report on the issue within two weeks.
The members of the Committee were of the view that such environment may be created which could help promote the game, as no worthwhile achievement has been made during the last ten years. It also observed that the game needs to be promoted at the gross root level like schools and colleges and the associations should hunt for new talent at the district and provincial levels. The newly appointed Secretary General of PHF Akhtar-ul -Islam dwelt on various causes which resulted in the falling standards of the game.
The committee was also briefed on “Visit Pakistan Year 2007” and the marketing strategy adopted by the Ministry of Tourism to further promote tourism in the country. Secretary Tourism Saleem Gull gave a detailed presentation on the marketing strategy and the calendar for visit Pakistan year 2007. He said that the tourism products have been defined and different kinds of the government for promotion of tourism in the country.
He said that visa policy has also been relaxed and this puts Pakistan ahead of many countries in promoting tourism. It was informed that on December 15 an inaugural ceremony of the calendar year visit Pakistan year 2007 would be held. The members of the Committee appreciated the detailed scheduled of activities chalked out for the year 2007 and observed that it would facilitate in promoting tourism both at national and international levels. The Committee, however, directed the Ministry of Tourism to provide maximum facilities to the tourists.
It was also pointed that PTDC hotels and motels need to be furnished to bring them at par with international standards. It also directed the Ministry to constitute a team of senior officials to coordinate with the diplomatic corps of different countries working in Pakistan to make the event a success.
It also suggested that tourism attaches should be posted in Pakistan’s missions abroad.