Synthetic turf worth millions may get damaged at National Hockey Stadium

The process of installing the synthetic turf at the National Hockey Stadium, Lahore, has slowed due to bad weather.

The work of laying the turf was inaugurated by the Sports advisor Punjab Wahab Riaz in the mid of April, 2023.

The turf was spread across the ground in different sections but it was not properly attached to the ground. As a result, according to sources, the turf is likely to be damaged heavily by being consistently blown away by the strong winds.

The estimate cost of the turf work at the National Hockey Stadium is around Rs160 million.

According to the Sports Board Punjab, the turf is being laid under the supervision of experts. The process of installing the turf is going as per the instructions of the experts and will be completed in 10 to 12 days.

Earlier, in August last year, the Astroturf of the National Hockey Stadium Lahore was removed for a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) public gathering, and the Punjab government announced that a new modern turf would be installed at the venue.

The blue synthetic turf, which was approved by the International Hockey Federation (FIH), was procured from Belgium.

The base of the ground was completely damaged due to the removal of the turf. However, it has also been rebuilt now.

Additionally, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) last month constituted a five-member fact finding committee to look into the complaint lodged by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Hockey Association against the sub-standard hockey turf that has been laid at the Lala Ayub Stadium in Peshawar.

The inquiry committee will be headed by Deputy Director General (Facilities) Mohammad Saeed Akhtar and includes KP Hockey Association President Syed Zahir Shah, senior hockey coach Mohammad Arshad and sub-engineer Faisal Ejaz.

The fact-finding body has been empowered to submit a report with the PSB director general within one month after carrying out brief visit to the venue.

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