LAHORE, Feb 18: As with most other sports, there are little or no facilities for a population of about 6.5 million people of Lahore to learn swimming.

At present, only one pool at the LDA Sports Complex, Samanabad, is available (that, too, in summer alone) for the public where everyone can swim after paying Rs10-15 a day. The people who live far from the complex have to be content with using the city’s polluted canal.

Indeed, there are many good sportsmen who have learnt the art of swimming at the canal. But, after all, it is not a proper place and sometimes dangerous for life and limb.

Five-Star hotels, the Model Town Club and the Lahore Gymkhana are equipped with this facility but it is confined only to their members.

A non-member, however, may enjoy swimming there by paying hefty charges of Rs3,000-4,000 a month. The Punjab government spent nearly a fortune on the Model Town Club pool, but handed it over to the club on completion but the latter denies its use even on national events.

A swimming pool at the Iqbal Parks Sports Complex was another place for the general public but it has not been operative since the mid-1990s. The Punjab Sports Board which has been running the pool, has no interest in reviving it.

The sports board officials are of the view that the pool in the Iqbal Park is situated at a place where the people are not much interested in the sport. The pool at the Iqbal Park had been affected badly due to the seepage problem.

However, the board is very keen to have a new pool in Nishtar Park near the Qadhafi Stadium, but it will take a long time for it to secure funds from the government even if it gets the approval to build it.

The only pool for women in working condition is the property of the Lahore Gymkhana. The Punjab University pool for women is situated in the Old Campus ground near Chauburji, but it is not working despite being renovated some three years ago.

The Punjab University pool for men, however, is working at the New Campus but only for the students and the university faculty.

The other educational institutions where swimming pools are available are the King Edward Medical College, Kinnaird College and Aitchison College. The Government College’s pool has also been closed down.

The Shapes Club is one of the private organization where swimming is possible the year round. The club is charging Rs3,000-4,000 per month and entry is open to all. One hopes the government will provide modern infrastructure and training facilities for the common people to promote the sport which is quite popular among our youth.