November 27, 2001	Tuesday	Ramazan 11, 1422

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KARACHI Nov 26: Amost six months had passed since the Rangers vacated the National Sports Training and Coaching Centre but Islamabad has yet to get the NSTCC renovated and repaired for making it useable for the youth of Sindh

The NSTCC is owned by Islamabad-based Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) which has recently shifted SAF Games boxing camp here at the NSTCC. The PSB povided fund for the camp and the boxing erana has been renovated and repaired and about 20 boxers are getting trainging under the gudiance of Cuban coach. The officials and the boxers are staying at the NSTCC and the expenses are being met by the fund provided by the PSB

However, the big multipurpose gymansium, having the playing facilities for table tennia, badmintion, basketball, volleyball, and wrestling, remains unused for the PSB has no fund to renovate it.

PSB Director General Brig Saulat Abbas told Dawn Monday on telephone that the board engineer had visited the NSTCC and on the basis of his assement we have submited report to the Federal Ministry of Sports for the amount needed for its complete renovation and repair. It means the NSTCC would not be renovated and repaired till such time fund is allocated by the concerned authorities

The gymanasium can be made useable by replacing the damaged wooden and repairing the light arrangements that hardly requires large fund.In case the entire wooden floor is changed then it would be needing big funding by Islamabad which can provide it for the youth of Sindh who were deprived of their right for using the centre which remained occupied by the Rangers for about six years.

The three squash courts are also needs immediate renovation and repair to make them useable for squash players. Indeed, athletes are having their almost daily practice on the tartan tract , otherwise the centre remains unused even the Rangers had vacated it in the first week of June.

The NSTCC belongs to the Federal Government but Sindh Governor Mohammadmian Soomoro can take up the issue with Islamabad for getting the Centre renovated and reparired within two months time for the use of youth.