February 04, 2008	Monday	Muharram 25, 1429

KARACHI, Feb 3: Dismissing the criticism from local sports fraternity regarding the timings of staging the 12th Sindh Games at Sukkur from Feb 12 to 15, the caretaker Sindh Sports Minister, Amber Raza Nancy sounded confident that the event will go ahead as per schedule and create harmony among the people of urban and rural areas of the province.

“I want to contribute something positive during my short tenure,” she told Dawn on Sunday.

The caretaker minister said she was aware of the shortcomings and can overcome with collective efforts. “I need the support from media in creating an enviable environment through the games,” she remarked.

Meanwhile, the improper timings of the games have drawn criticism from people connected with the sports. “The Sindh Sports Board (SSB) has set no direction while announcing the dates at a short notice,” secretary of a provincial sports association who requested anonymity told Dawn on Sunday.

He said it will be an exercise in futility as the competitors are not ready to go through the drill in a short span of time. “What’s the use of wasting government exchequer funds without achieving the goal,” he questioned.

“With country’s general elections drawing nearer and to be preceded by Benazir Bhutto’s chehlum, it would be wise to postpone the games until calm prevails in the province,” said another official.

He said the parents would be reluctant to send their children particularly girls, to Sukkur in the present situation.

Property worth billions of rupees was damaged from Karachi to Sukkur in the violence that erupted in the aftermath of Benazir’s assassination on Dec 27 last.

“Huge funds set aside for the purpose will go down the drain if the SSB succeeds in staging the games,” he remarked.

An amount of over 10 million rupees was said to be spent on the last Sindh Games held at Hyderabad amid complaints from athletes and officials regarding daily allowance and track suits.