LAHORE Federation of International Hockey President Leando Negre spent a busy day in the city meeting top government officials and functionaries at the Chief Minister House and the Governors House. Negre arrived here early Tuesday morning at the Allama Iqbal International Airport amidst tight security and was accorded warm welcome by the Pakistan Hockey Federation. The PHF invited Negre early this year to visit Pakistan and look for himself the security situation in the country. Secretary PHF Asif Bajwa, secretary Punjab hockey Rana Mujahid and several other hockey stalwarts accorded him warm welcome at the airport. Talking to media on his arrival, the president FIH said he felt proud and was very delightful to have arrived here in Pakistan. Negre held a detailed meeting with Chief Minister Punjab Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif on a lunch while Governor Punjab Salman Taseer met the FIH chief in the evening. The two leaders assured the FIH president of all-out support in the revival of hockey in Pakistan and look out for a comprehensive back up from the games parent body. Provincial Minister for Local Government and Community Development Department Sardar Dost Muhammad Khan Khosa, Minister for Sports Tanveer-ul-Islam, Member National Assembly Khawaja Muhammad Asif and President Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Qasim Zia were also present on the occasion at the meeting with the Chief Minister. Matters regarding promotion of hockey in Pakistan were discussed in the meeting. Talking to the delegation, the CM said the Punjab government was taking all possible measures for the promotion of sports. Hockey is the national sport and very popular in Pakistan, and we have earned name in international hockey and achieved success in international competitions a number of times. Pakistan has always enjoyed a prominent status in the hockey world and Pakistani players have earned laurels for the country, he said, while adding that PHF President Qasim Zia had been a prominent player of hockey and was utilising all its abilities for improving the standard of hockey in the country. He expressed the hope under Qasim Zias leadership the standard of hockey in Pakistan would improve and the country would regain its status in the international competitions. Pakistan is facing security problems, but a successful operation has been carried out by Army in Swat and Malakand against terrorists and every effort is being made to root out terrorism from the country, he said. The Chief Minister thanked President FIH for his cooperation in the promotion of hockey in the country. Zia said Leandro Negre was taking keen interest in the promotion of hockey in Pakistan and was cooperating in provision of necessary facilities in this regard. He also thanked the Chief Minister for taking interest in the promotion of hockey and provision of funds. Earlier, President FIH said the federation was extending all out cooperation to the PHF for promoting hockey and improving its standard. Later, the CM hosted a luncheon in honour of the delegation.