PESHAWAR: Lack of attention to promote sports has been giving rise to violence in Fata as despite its approval two and half years back, the government is yet to establish an international sports complex for the tribal players and athletics.

Shahid Shinwari, general secretary of Fata Olympic Association, said that government approved construction of sports complex in Shah Kas area of Khyber Agency at a cost of Rs1.20 billion in July 2013 but the project couldn’t see light of the day owing to lack of interest by the government as well as the 20 parliamentarians, who were elected from all Fata agencies.

He said that role of parliamentarians for sports promotion was zero. “The formation of FOA in 2011 enabled tribal players to compete in the national events. We have been able to win gold, silver and bronze medals in basketball, martial art, football and other games at national level,” he said.

Mr Shinwari said that government had allocated Rs100 million and was supposed to acquire 500 kanals in Jamrud near Peshawar for construction of the complex with international facilities, like hostels, gymnasium, cricket, hockey and football grounds and indoor games including table tennis, badminton and volleyball etc.

The association pinned great hopes on the complex which would be easily accessible to all players from Fata due to its location, he said.

“Between 2011 and 2014, we made tremendous progress in all kinds of sports. We have organised intra-agency tournaments in Bajaur, Mohmand and Khyber agencies which attracted huge number of spectators. The government also wanted to do away with terrorism through promotion of sports but there is no practical work,” he said.

Mr Shinwari said that Fata women players had also immense potential but lack of facilities hampered their desire to represent their people at national level because they were unable to do practice.

“Presently, three of our athletes are in Malaysia to compete in martial arts. One of Fata’s football players recently represented Pakistan in Iran,” he said. He added that Fata won Women Junior National Basketball Championship despite problems in getting regular sports opportunities.

“During the last few months, we have been in reverse gear as there is total silence regarding sports in Fata,” Mr Shinwari said. Former governor Shaukatullah Khan, also first president of FOA, played a role for promotion of Fata but after his departure, they lost hopes of revival of sports, he said.

Mr Shinwari said that so far they depended on the sports facilities provided by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for their players but they required permanent sports facilities in tribal areas to enable the local population to take up sports and divert their attention from violence. “We are sure that violence will end if the government promotes sports,” he said.

Published in Dawn, October 25th , 2014