ISLAMABAD, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 20th Aug, 2026) Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), in collaboration with the Government of Punjab through its sports Department and School education Department, is launching a major initiative to revive hockey at the grassroots level by distributing hockey equipment to schools across the province.
The initiative is aimed at strengthening the school-level hockey structure, providing young players with essential equipment and creating greater opportunities for coaching and competitive activity.
A coordination meeting in this regard was held on Wednesday at the office of the Director General Sports, Punjab, which was attended by all Divisional Sports Officers, representatives of the PHF and the Director General Monitoring, School Education Department.
The meeting issued clear directions to all stakeholders to ensure effective coordination and smooth implementation of the programme.
The Divisional Sports Officers have been directed to work closely with the School Education Department, local administration and PHF representatives, while field officers have been assigned responsibility for ensuring proper arrangements and successful conduct of the equipment distribution ceremonies.
The first distribution ceremony will be held on Friday at 10:00 AM at Waqar-un-Nisa College for Women, Rawalpindi.
The venue was shifted from the Astro Turf Hockey Stadium due to heavy rains in Rawalpindi.
A local public representative/dignitary has been invited as the chief guest. The Divisional Commissioner, District Sports Officer, PHF and School Education Department are coordinating closely for the event, while the Commissioner Rawalpindi has deputed an Assistant Commissioner to oversee arrangements and event management.
The hockey equipment will be formally received from the PHF by the District Sports Officer, Rawalpindi.
As many as 45 schools from Rawalpindi Division will participate in the inaugural distribution ceremony. Each school will bring its complete hockey team comprising 15 players, accompanied by two teachers.
Around 1,000 students from the participating schools are also expected to attend the ceremony as spectators.
The PHF said the initiative represented an important step towards rebuilding Pakistan’s hockey pipeline by taking the national sport directly to schools and ensuring that young players have access to the equipment and opportunities needed to develop their skills.
The programme will also help create a stronger foundation for structured coaching, regular competitions and the identification of talented players at the grassroots level.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation appreciated the Government of Punjab, particularly its Sports Department and School Education Department, along with the local administration and programme partners, for their cooperation and support in making the grassroots hockey initiative possible.
The federation expressed confidence that bringing hockey back into schools would play a key role in developing the next generation of players and strengthening Pakistan’s hockey structure.
The message is clear: hockey must return to Pakistan’s schools, and the journey begins now.
