Islamabad, June 20, 2023 (PPI-OT): The National Assembly Standing Committee on Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) has expressed serious concerns regarding the recent elections held by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and directed the Ministry of IPC to conduct a thorough audit of the funds provided to the PHF as sports grants. The Committee also directed that the Audit Report be submitted to the Committee for its review. The Committee emphasized that the Report of the Management Committee, constituted to finalize the recommendations in their matters pertaining to the affairs of PHF, should be submitted to the Hon. Prime Minister as soon as possible. Furthermore, the Committee directed the Secretary, Ministry of Interior and Director General, Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) to enforce strict measures and not to allow any Sports Federation to leave the country unless they acquire a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of IPC and Pakistan Sports Board (PSB).

2. 33rd meeting of the Standing Committee was held today at 11:00 a.m. in the Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination, Kohsar Block, Pak-Secretariat, Islamabad under the Chairmanship of Mr. Nawab Sher, MNA.

3. At the outset, Committee was informed by the Secretary, Ministry of IPC that there are many Audit Paras are pending in Public Accounts Committee (PAC) against PHF. The Secretary, PHF said that the elections ware conducted according to PHF Constitution, however, International Hockey Federation allegedly granted permission to the PHF to proceed with the election. The Hon. Minister for IPC pointed out that the Hon. Prime Minister had constituted a high-power Committee on the affairs of PHF under the Chairmanship of Minister for Defence along with Minister for Economic Affairs Division and Minister for IPC.

The high-power Committee recommended to conduct financial audit of accounts of PHF by Federal Audit and Performance Audit by the Management Committee headed by Director General PSB. The said Management Committee unanimously recommended that the Hon. Prime Minister being the Petron-in-Chief of PHF may call for free and fair election of PHF and may nominate an interim Committee for at least six months. The Standing Committee emphasized that the Report of the Management Committee should be submitted to the Hon. Prime Minister as soon as possible. The Committee also directed the Ministry of IPC to conduct a thorough audit of the funds provided to the PHF as sports grants and Audit Report thereof should be submitted to the Standing Committee for its review.

4. While briefing on the National Sports Policy 2022-2027, the Hon. Minister for IPC informed the Committee that draft of said Sports Policy is under consideration with the Federal Cabinet for its approval. The Committee urged the Hon. Minister to expedite the National Sports Policy 2022-2027 from the Federal Cabinet in order to ensure transparency, accountability, and fair governance within the realm of sports in Pakistan.

5. Besides the Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination, Mr. Ehsan Ur Rehman Mazari, the meeting was attended by MNAs/Members of the Committee, Rana Mubashir Iqbal, Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Behan, Ms. Shahida Rehmani, Ms. Rubina Irfan, Makhdoom Syed Sami-ul-Hassan Gillani, Ms. Javairia Zafar Aheer (through video-link). Dr. Mahreen Razzaq Bhutto, MNA/Mover was also present in the meeting. The senior officers from Ministry of IPC, Pakistan Olympic Association, Pakistan Hockey Federation, Pakistan Sports Board and Pakistan Football Federation were also present in the meeting.

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Secretary,

National Assembly of Pakistan

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