Pakistan Hockey Federation

Hockey was originally brought to Pakistan under British rule, and like cricket soon became popular with the local population.The Pakistan Hockey Federation came into being in 1948, following the independence of Pakistan in 1947.National Hockey stadium Lahore PHF National Hockey stadium PHF office
Prior to this players from what is now Pakistan had competed internationally alongside players from what is now India. In the beginning, the Federation’s membership included the Provincial Hockey/Sports Associations of West Punjab, East Bengal, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Bahawalpur & Services Sports Board. Pakistan played their first international in London when they defeated Belgium 2-1 in 14th Olympic Games hockey tournament on 2 August 1948. The first President of PHF was Ghazanfar Ali Khan with Baseer Ali Sheikh as Honorary Secretary. The Pakistan national side soon established a strong reputation in international competition, helping to maintain interest in the game in Pakistan which assisted the growth of the Federation. However, no full-time central office or secretariat, as such, was established until the 1960s.
The office of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, located in National Hockey Stadium, Lahore, Lahore, was developed into a Secretariat in 1971. It was during the second term as president of Air Marshal Nur Khan from 1978 that Pakistani hockey entered something of a golden age. National Senior, National Junior and Women Hockey Teams were all competing internationally, increasing the work load of PHF Office and secretary Brigadier M. H. Atif tremendously.

On the personal initiative of Air Marshal M. Nur Khan, the FIH introduced the World Cup Tournament and the Champions Trophy Tournament, which are now rated amongst the major international tournaments, alongside the Olympics. At this time, Pakistan held all the major titles in men’s international hockey.

However, the 1976 Olympics in Montreal had seen the introduction of artificial turf to international hockey competition. Pakistan was unable to build as many of the new pitches as the European nations or Australia and New Zealand and so the strength of the national side declined. It was after a lapse of 12 years that the Pakistan Hockey Team again started climbing and won the Champions Trophy and the World Cup with Air Vice Marshal Farooq Umar as president and Colonel Mudassar as secretary of the Federation.

Role of Hockey Federation

  1. To promote, control, develop and organize the game of hockey at all levels in Pakistan and to protect and safeguard the interests of all its members.
  2. To make Rules, Regulations, Bye-laws and issue Directives on all matters relation, thereto;
  3. To conduct itself and to take such administrative, financial and other measures as are necessary, in conformity with and in furtherance to its objects;
  4. To preserve its independence in all matters, directly and indirectly, concerning the game of hockey, from intervention of any extraneous agency against its will and in its relations with the affiliated units;
  5. To raise and utilize funds for the promotion of the game including purchase, lease, sale, hire or exchange of moveable or immovable properties;
  6. To affiliate, subscribe and associate with National or International Associations/ Federations having similar objects, as long as their statutes and Bye-laws are compatible with that of the AHF/FIH.
  7. To take all such measures which the PHF deems expedient for the attainment of its objects.