Shahbaz Sharif, Punjab's Chief Minister, has reassured Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) President Qasim Zia that Negre and Ireland's David Balbarnie, who will be accompanying him on the trip, will be guests of the Provincial Government during their stay in Lahore and will receive the highest level of protection.

Qasim, an influential Punjab assembly member from the Pakistan People's Party, had a meeting recently with Shahbaz to discuss Negre's much-awaited visit.
 

The FIH chief will meet high-ranking Government officials during his first-ever visit to Pakistan.

On October 14, the Spaniard will be the chief guest at the opening ceremony of the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Gold Cup in Islamabad. 
 

But Negre is mainly visiting Pakistan at the PHF's invitation to hold discussions for the return of international hockey to the country.
 

Pakistan, which was once regarded as one of the biggest centres of world hockey, last hosted an international event - the six-nation Champions Trophy - in 2004 in Lahore.
 

Since then international hockey teams have stayed away from Pakistan because of security concerns.

Pakistan is considered one of the most main centres for terrorism and more than 1,500 people have been killed in suicide attacks in the last two years.

In March gunmen ambushed the Sri Lanka cricket team bus in Lahore in March.
 
No-one was killed but the attack ended Pakistan's hopes of hosting international cricket teams - or any high profile sports events - for months, if not years.

It led to Pakistan being dropped as hosts of the 2011 World Cup.

Even before the attack, most cricket squads chose not to tour the country for security reasons. India and Australia had canceled tours, and after the attack New Zealand announced it was calling of its December tour.