Government funding requested by PHF for hotel lodgings in Kuala Lumpur, according to insider reports.
Time to shake up Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF)!
Pakistan's national sports scene has been rocked by a financial spat between the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and the PHF, with the former holding back funds due to concerns over transparency and past allegations of corruption.
The PHF has been bleating about their financial woes hindering international competition participation, but according to a PHF-penned letter, the federation boasts a hefty bank balance. This revelation came when the PHF requested government funds to cover expenses for a hotel in Kuala Lumpur during the "FIH Hockey Men's Nations Cup 2025." Quite a mind-boggling scenario, eh?
Responding to this shady move, the PSB took matters into their own hands, securing air tickets for the national team's attendance at the event only. However, SEE HERE, the PHF later disclosed they have the dough for the hotel accommodations, seeking approval for the release of foreign currency for payment from the Finance Ministry and State Bank of Pakistan.
Take a gander at the stats, and it's evident that the PSB has disbursed an eye-popping Rs119.667 million to the PHF over the last couple of years. Now, here's the kicker: despite numerous written nudges, the federation has yet to submit auditable financial reports. Oooh, scandalous, right? As a result, the PSB board meeting in December 2024 decided to block any further funding till the PHF displays financial accountability.
Sources report that a detailed report has been compiled by the PSB and forwarded to the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination for high-level deliberation. When asked for comment, DG PSB Yasir Pirzada stayed tight-lipped on PHF affairs but mentioned that, moving forward, only federations offering complete details of audited accounts would receive funding.
"We're linking funding to performance and audits of already provided funds," he said. In other words, forget about getting any moolah until you've shown us how you've handled your previous funds.
The previous PHF administration grappled with some severe corruption charges that led to an inquiry by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). In February of this year, a group of Olympians appealed to the federal government to expedite the FIA inquiry for a swift resolution. Players like Nasir Ali, Ayaz Mahmood, Khalid Bashir, and Kaleemullah, during their press conference in Islamabad, expressed their intent for a speedy conclusion to the probe.
The Olympians alleged that the PHF received more funds from 2008 to 2024 than it did from 1947 to 2008. The FIA is currently scrutinizing 113 audit paras of the PHF worth Rs1.25 billion.
In essence, the PSB's decision to withhold funding boils down to the need for better management and transparency within the PHF, compounded by historical corruption accusations. The ball's in the federation's court to regain trust and transparency if they want their funds!
The financial spat between the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has raised concerns about the PHF's handling of funds, as they boast a hefty bank balance but haven't submitted auditable financial reports, despite repeated requests from the PSB.
Moving forward, the PSB has linked funding to performance and audits of already provided funds, indicating that the PHF needs to demonstrate financial accountability to receive future funding.
