ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s long-awaited return to elite world hockey looks imminent as the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and Ministry of Finance have moved closer to agreeing on the financial blueprint for the country’s participation in the FIH Pro League 2026.
The development came on Tuesday during a high-powered meeting chaired by Prime Minister’s Advisor on Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Rana Sanaullah, and attended by key stakeholders including IPC Secretary Mohyuddin Wani, PHF Secretary Rana Mujahid, senior Ministry of Finance officials, and representatives from the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB).
The Ministry of IPC has given a positive response to Pakistan’s participation in the annual global showpiece, paving the way for Wednesday’s follow-up session where PHF officials will sit down with the Ministry of Finance to finalize the expenditure plan.
According to the PHF’s proposal submitted to the IPC, nearly Rs 350 million will be required to fulfill Pakistan’s 16-match Pro League commitment, a grueling, globe-trotting campaign against the world’s top hockey nations. While the meeting explored ways to trim costs without compromising performance, it was unanimously agreed that pulling out of the event would be a damaging blow to Pakistan’s hockey ambitions.
In a bold move, the PHF Secretary offered the government to directly manage the players’ travel, board and lodging, and daily allowances. The federation said it would focus solely on ensuring top-class performance on the field. However, the suggestion was swiftly turned down by the chair, who insisted that such operational responsibilities must remain with the federation.
Rana Mujahid underlined the Pro League’s significance in Pakistan’s quest to reclaim a spot among the world’s top ten hockey nations. “Our players are starving for international exposure. The Pro League offers a golden opportunity to face the best year-round, sharpen our skills, and lift our global ranking. If we want to stay relevant in modern hockey, this is non-negotiable,” he stressed.
Once the PHF and Finance Ministry finalize details, the IPC will hold another round of meeting most probably on Friday to decide on Pakistan’s participation. The meeting ended with a shared understanding: Pakistan must be there when the Pro League begins.
With New Zealand declining participation in the League despite their Nations Cup victory, the FIH has extended a formal invitation to Pakistan, offering a golden opportunity to re-enter top-tier global hockey.
However, the PHF faces a tight deadline, as the FIH has asked for a final response by August 16. Initially, the PHF had set August 12 as their internal deadline but was forced to seek an extension due to the Independence Day holidays.