LAHORE: The Punjab Olympic Association (PbOA) and secretaries of different provincial sports associations tabled three demands to the Sports Board Punjab (SBP) during a joint meeting held here on Tuesday.

PbOA secretary Khawaja Idrees told Dawn that during the meeting — aimed at exchanging views for the betterment of sports in the province — he demanded of sports secretary Aamir Jan to restore the annual grants of the provincial sports associations, which had been suspended for the last seven years.

“Other provincial sports associations have been receiving regular grant from their respective sports boards. Whereas in Punjab the associations have not got a single penny for the last seven years which is a great injustice,” Idrees lamented while insisting that every provincial sports association should get Rs500,000 grant annually.

The official added the PbOA had also demanded of returning back their offices located at Punjab Stadium, with all goods and equipment, which the SBP seized several years ago without informing the association.

“Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had allocated two offices to the PbOA at Punjab Stadium but the offices were closed by the SBP five years ago and the entire equipment was seized. Now we have asked for the return of it all,” he continued.

He said the PbOA also asked the sports secretary to help the association hold Punjab Games, which he reckoned could not be organised during the last seven years due to SBP’s non-cooperation.

Idrees hoped the genuine demands of the provincial associations would be accepted.

“And if not, the PbOA will not hesitate to take any extreme action,” the official revealed without elaborating.

Meanwhile, a press release issued by the SBP said it was decided during Tuesday’s meeting that a sports calendar of events would be chalked out at the district and divisional levels.

The meeting also decided that the SBP would sponsor top national players for competing in international events; top performers at international competitions would be awarded with prizes.

A four-member committee in this regard was also constituted. It includes Idrees, Arshad Sattar, Salman Iqbal Butt and Saba Waris as members.

Published in Dawn, November 22nd, 2017