TOBA TEK SINGH: A sports stadium project has not been completed for more than three decades, thanks to a lack of interest of successive governments.

Launched over a five-acre tract on Faisalabad-Multan Road in Pirmahal about 35 years ago, Ali Sports Stadium was left incomplete due to a lack of funds.

In 2001, the provincial government granted funds with which its boundary wall and grounds were constructed but the remaining work was suspended owing to ‘insufficient funds’.

Around a decade ago, the Pakistan Hockey Federation on the demand of two former players from Pirmahal Rana Muhammad Shafiq and Aleem Raza had announced that AstroTurf would be laid on its ground for hockey players to promote the talent but the plan was not materialised.

Former Olympian Aleem Raza told Dawn that the PHF was willing to lay a modern AstroTurf but they had to wait for the stadium completion.

Rana Muhammad Ashraf, who heads an association, said the local players and amateurs were unable to play in the stadium as its grounds were uneven and people dump garbage over there.

PML-N MNA Chaudhry Asadur Rehman claimed that Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had approved Rs485 million for the completion of the stadium and work would resume before the end of the current financial year.

He said he had formed a three-member committee to ensure use of quality material in the construction.

Published in Dawn December 1st, 2016