THANKS to the sagacity of the minister for inter-provincial coordination (IPC) and the deft handling of the issues relating to the national sports policy by the IPC secretary we have overcome a nightmare that wasted more than two years of Pakistan sports in a fruitless tussle with the Olympic Charter to which Pakistan is a signatory.

Leaving the rest for some other opportune time, I draw the attention of our parliament to an important issue relating to the budget presented on Friday. It is the scarce and unaffordable playing equipment of over 80pc of the games played in Pakistan.

Barring the imports of golf and skiing equipment that is charged at 10pc customs duty, equipment of all other sports is charged at 20pc plus 16pc sales tax. The policy ensures that all young children not born with a silver spoon are kept away from any meaningful sports activity. Enormous sports potential is thus nipped in the bud.

On top of it, the equipment that the sports federations receive, free of cost as assistance from international sports federation, as well as from equipment manufacturers, in sponsorship of various events are also charged both customs duty and sales tax. though there is neither any value nor any sale involved.

I, therefore, make a fervent appeal to our sports-loving legislators to take the following decisions in the budget for 2015-16:

There should be a zero rate on customs duty and sales tax on equipment received free of price as assistance and sponsorship by national sports federations and POA. Kindly reduce both customs duty and sales tax on the commercial imports of sports equipment to 5pc each to make it available in the market at affordable cost to parents and schools for talented children before they are picked by grassroots sports associations for further grooming.

Also, address the issue of discrimination in rates of customs duty and sales tax for golf and skiing vis-a-vis other sports.

Muhammad Sibtain
Karachi

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2015

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