Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has absolutely overlooked the sports sector in the budget for 2016-17 and has incorporated only two new schemes pertaining to sports in the development budget.

The government has allocated only Rs 630.8 million through the Pakistan Sports Board in the development projects. Funds amounting to Rs 995 million have been earmarked for non development projects.

Hefty funds amounting to Rs 450 million have also been included in the budget for completion of ongoing construction works at the sports complex in the constituency of Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal.

According to budget documents, only two new schemes have been included in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the financial year 2016-17. Against these schemes, Rs 60 million have been allocated for laying a new astroturf hockey ground for promotion of hockey in Swat while Rs 50 million have been earmarked for laying an astroturf in the hockey grounds in other cities of country.

According to the budget documents on PSDP, the project against which funds have been allocated for laying a new a astroturf was approved by the central development working party in 2006.

But this project could not materialise despite the lapse of 11 years due to the operation against militants in Swat and non release of any funds by the government. In order to accomplish this project, Rs 60 million have been allocated once again in the budget for the fiscal year 2016-17.

The documents say that Rs 520 million have been earmarked for four development projects in the budget for 2016-17. Rs 1.14 billons were spent on the project for construction of sports complex in the constituency of Ahsan Iqbal Minister for Planning at Norowal in the financial year 2015-16 and Rs 450 million have been earmarked for this project in the budget for 2016-17.

Funds amounting to Rs 18.8 million have been allocated for the establishment of a bio mechanical lab at the Pakistan Sports Complex Islamabad, Rs 50 million for national games and Rs two million for laying an Astroturf at the hockey ground in Gilgit.

The budget documents also say that Rs 995 million have been earmarked for non development projects in the budget for 2016-17 which will be spent on disbursement of salaries to employees of the Pakistan Sports Board, grants to be provided to sports federation and participation of Pakistani squads in international events and other matters.