ISLAMABAD - Federal Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) Minister Riaz Hussain Pirzada promised to provide funds to the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) from his discretionary fund to help the federation not only host upcoming S25,000 PSA event, but also send players abroad for international events.
Talking to The Nation on Thursday, Pirzada said: “Squash has given so much name and fame to the country at international level and Pakistan had produced a number of champions. I would do whatever I could to help the federation and players in best possible way.”
He also directed the PSB to immediately start renovation work at Mushaf Ali Mir and Roshan Khan Squash Complex for the prestigious event. He also announced that the government would support only that POA which abide by the Supreme Court direction and follow sports policy. “We have made it clear to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that we will abide by their rules and regulations, but they also have to understand ground realities. We have to follow our own country laws and next month, IPC secretary Ch Ejaz will depart to meet the IOC top brass to make our point clear to the IOC. We will ask the international body not to dictate terms and we will abide by the IOC directions for one year or we will send our teams and athletes through Gen Arif Hasan, after that Gen Sahi will take over as elected head of the POA.”
“Even if the IOC decided to impose ban on Pakistan, it will have no significant impact as far as Pakistani contingents are concerned as majority of our senators have been backing sports policy and offer their support in implementing policy in true letter and spirit,” he added. “In my opinion, hockey grant is too low to meet their all needs so there is a dire need of increasing their grant. I will talk to Prime Minister in this regard and I hope he will surely do something better for the national game,” Pirzada added.