Pakistan Revives National Hockey with School-Based Strategy

In Islamabad, Pakistani officials unveiled a new strategy aimed at reviving the nation’s national sport by fortifying hockey within schools and educational boards. The initiative was discussed during a meeting of the National Education-Hockey Coordination Committee held under the Inter Boards Coordination Commission’s secretariat on March 10th.

The session, centered on rebuilding Pakistan’s hockey talent pipeline through the education system, was co-chaired by Dr Ghulam Ali Mallah and Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani. Federal Secretary for Inter-Provincial Coordination Division presented the IBCC-PHF School and Inter-Board Hockey Revival Programme (2026-2029) at the meeting.

Developed in collaboration with the Pakistan Hockey Federation, this programme charts a roadmap to rebuild Pakistani hockey by spreading the sport across schools and educational boards. The initiative will concentrate on augmenting participation in school-level hockey, organizing inter-board tournaments, and creating a structured pathway for promising players to ascend from grassroots level to the national men’s team.

The conference attracted directors of physical education from various educational boards, along with former Olympians including Hassan Sardar, Islahuddin Siddique, and Khwaja Junaid. Participants hailed the proposed strategy and voiced their support in reviving Pakistan’s hockey via cooperation between sports authorities and the education sector.

A joint steering committee—comprising former Olympians and representatives from educational boards—will oversee the programme’s implementation over the next several years and monitor its progress.

Pakistan boasts a storied history of success in international hockey, but officials assert that revitalizing the sport at grassroots level will be paramount for securing its competitive position on the global stage.