Daily Times

When the pandemic swept the nation, it shuttered many businesses.

The sports community is one of the key segment of the society which has been hit very hard due to the lock down in the backlash of the pandemic.

COVID-19 forced authorities to permanently shutter all government-owned gyms in Pakistan. Even the smallest of gyms are struggling to survive.

Notably, private gyms in Pakistan have reopened for the public with safety precautions and these are also following the government’s given SOPS.

Currently, two parallel systems are being exercised in gyms at Lahore. Most private gyms are open in Lahore with SOPs developed by the government, but government gyms are not adopting these SOPs. They are in the process of designing new SOPs for the government-owned gyms.

Earlier, the Pakistan Sports Complex in Islamabad has been closed down after four of its employees tested positive for coronavirus.

However, after carrying out thorough disinfection process, the Islamabad Administration de-sealed, Pakistan Sports Complex, Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and different federation offices, allowing the staff to restart daily business under the prescribed SOPs

Just adjacent to the Pakistan Sports Complex are the Islamabad Club facilities where the sports action has already started in accordance with the given SOPs. Besides tennis activities, golf and polo action is already under way. The lockdown over the last three months has crippled the sports activities to a level where professional athletes would be needing a heavy work out in days and weeks to come to re-gather their best form for forthcoming international events.

The PSF has already postponed their plans of restarting activities at the Pakistan Sports Complex premises following sealing of the site. Now when the PSB Complex has been reopened, chances are that we may see start of action at the Mushaf Ali Mir Complex in near future.

Unfortunately, the condition of government owned sports complexes has worsened with time.

Due to the apathy of the Punjab government the construction of the Chakwal Sports Complex could not be completed even after over 10 years.

In 2006, the then government of Pervez Musharraf decided to build new sports complexes across the country to boost sports.

The construction work on the players’ hostel was left half done. The boundary wall of the complex has also crumbled and the road to the complex is in shambles.

Moreover, the idea of constructing a swimming pool in the complex was dropped while the hockey ground is yet to be constructed.

In a nutshell, if government will start promoting sports at domestic and national level and allocate special funds for promotion of sports facilities so that day is not so far when Pakistan can make a make in sports all around the world.