GUJRAT, Oct 15: A sports gymnasium could not be completed even after around seven years despite construction of the building.

The project has not been given any funds for over two years that has caused a delay in the final touches and renovation of the main hall.

Then chief minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi had in 2006 approved the establishment of a sports gymnasium on the premises of the Zamindar College, Bhimbher Road, on a piece of land owned by the college right in front of the college mosque.

Then Gujrat district nazim Chaudhry Shafaat Husain had proposed the scheme for the youth for which Rs73 million had been earmarked. The structure of the gymnasium had been constructed until 2008 however since then its completion had been lingering.

There are very few playing facilities for the youth of Gujrat. The ones already established also allow registered teams only and no everyone can use those grounds and spaces. This is the reason the sports facility must be completed as soon as possible.

The project was aimed at providing the youth a facility for healthy indoor activities such as table tennis, badminton, lawn tennis, gym and other games according to the plan. Rs67 million had been spent on the project, but the delay in issuance of the remaining amount for over two years had increased the cost by Rs12 million.

Sources in the local sports and finance departments of the Punjab government said around Rs18 million were still required to make the gymnasium’s building fully functional.

An official of the district government said delay in projects of public interest was often a result of dirty politics. Projects initiated by a previous government would never get attention or priority of a new government, which prefers schemes launched during its stint.

District Sports Officer Salman Ali said the gymnasium project was in its final stages and once it was completed the buildings department would hand it over to the sports department to operate it.

District Coordination Officer Asif Bilal Lodhi told Dawn that he had recently sought the remaining funds, adding funds for other government schemes pending in the district would also be released soon.