Hockey stars demand dignity: PHF pushes govt to raise daily allowance

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s national hockey players, once the pride of the nation, are now fighting for recognition off the field as much as on it, with the meagre daily allowance of Rs400 during training camps emerging as a burning issue that has caught the attention of policymakers.

Reliable sources have confirmed to The News that this long-neglected matter is expected to surface prominently in the upcoming Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Board meeting, where a substantial increase in allowances for hockey players is likely to be tabled and, in all probability, approved.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has already raised its voice, terming the current allowance “insulting” to elite athletes who represent the national sport on the international stage.

The PHF has officially requested the government to increase the domestic daily allowance to Rs3,000 per player per day, a significant jump from the current figure that barely covers basic needs.

“The immediate step should be to raise the in-land dailies and approve $100 per day for players on foreign tours. Hockey players in other countries are already being paid far better,” a PHF official told The News.

Beyond allowances, the PHF is also advocating for the introduction of yearly contracts for the country’s 25–30 leading players, a move that would ensure financial security and motivate the athletes to focus solely on their game.

“We are trying to bring sponsors on board, but until that materialises, the government must step in and offer contracts. These players are Pakistan’s flag-bearers and must be treated accordingly. Look at India their players are given recognition and financial stability that allows them to perform without distractions,” the official added.

The federal government, meanwhile, has already directed the PHF to present a comprehensive roadmap for reviving the national sport, aiming for nothing less than a full-scale renaissance of Pakistan hockey, a sport that once made the country a powerhouse on the global stage with its Olympic and World Cup triumphs.