President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday said that Pakistan is fully safe and secure for hosting mega sporting activities and urged the International Hockey Federation to arrange major Hockey events in Pakistan to demonstrate it to the world. The President assured fool proof security arrangements for the visiting foreign teams.
The President gave this assurance during a meeting with Leandro Negre, President International Hockey Federation and R. David Balbirnie, Secretary General, European Hockey Federation, who called on him here in the Presidency on Wednesday. The meeting was attended among others by Aftab Hussain Shah Jillani, Minister for Sports, Qasim Zia, President Pakistan Hockey Federation, Asif Bajwa, Secretary General PHF and senior officials of Ministry of Sports.
The President appreciated the role of the FIH in promoting the game of Hockey around the world and thanked the President FIH for attending as chief guest the All Pakistan Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Gold Cup Hockey Tournament being held in Islamabad from October 14, to 21 2009.
The President while highlighting the popularity of the Hockey game in Pakistan said that Hockey is Pakistan's national game and is played in all parts of the country with great zeal and fervour. The government is working on promotion of hockey from the grassroots level and for this purpose academies have been established all over the country to serve as nurseries for the national pool of players, he said. Leandro Negre hailed the government's efforts for the promotion of hockey in Pakistan.
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