KARACHI, Aug 27: Sindh minister for Sports Naeem Ishtiaque on Wednesday informed the provincial assembly that his department has provided no funds to the football teams of various towns in Karachi as Sindh Sports Board (SSB) deals only with provincial sports organizations.

Speaking during question hour, the minister told the house on a question by MMA member Hafiz Muhammad Naeem, that no funds have been released to Baldia town football teams during current financial year.

To a supplementary question, he said there were two groups of players in Lyari who submitted two lists of teams for grant of funds. A list contained the names of 350 teams and the other 175 names.

On a question by Muhammad Rafique advocate, the minister told that his department received special grant of Rs two million for promotion of sports in Lyari during the year 2002-03 on the directives of the President, of which 1,71,800/- was spent on organizing inter-zonal boxing championship in Lyari, Sindh Sea Festival Boxing at Clifton, Cycle Race arount city and donkey cart race. Rs.18,28,200/- is still in balance, he added.—PPI