KARACHI, June 15: The construction work for Sindh Snooker Academy on a plot spread over 2500 square yards at Kashmir Road/Jail Road intersection is in full swing and will be completed in phases.

The piece of land was given to the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Federation (PBSF) last year courtesy Sindh Governor Dr. Ishratul Ebad Khan who gave his nod after learning the achievements of cueists globally.

A 30-year lease deal was inked between the PBSF and the former KMC Administrator Mohammad Hussain Syed.

“The entire construction of ground plus one project will cost approximately Rs60 million and the pace of work depends on the flow of funds from the government and private sector,” PBSF president Alamgir Shaikh said.

He said the work was delayed for some six months due to hectic domestic circuit and international commitments. Architect Qaizar Colombowala has prepared the design of the academy.

Alamgir said upon completion, the academy will provide playing facilities, 12 rooms for accommodation of players, PBSF secretariat, health club, kitchen and canteen etc. The academy will also ease tension of running from one place to another for staging the domestic circuit, he added.

The PBSF chief further disclosed that presently a boundary wall around the plot is being constructed besides work in progress for levelling the field, constructing water tank and erecting a main gate.

Alamgir thanked incumbent KMC Administrator, Hashim Raza, for allowing PBSF to start construction.

The PBSF chief said MPA Owais Muzaffar had promised to provide adequate funds for the academy from the Sindh Chief Minister’s funds while acknowledging the feat of world amateur snooker champion Mohammad Asif at Sofia, Bulgaria, last December.