CORRUPTION is rampant in sports at all levels from top to bottom. Be it the government-controlled Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), national sports federations, provincial sports associations among others, the ratio of alleged misuse of funds is alarming. However, there are exceptions.

This is one of the major factors of decline in sports in the country in the last 25 years.

The arrest of former director general of PSB, Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera, in Islamabad last month on alleged charges of corruption in which millions of rupees were misused on account of the Narowal Sports City project has brought just one case into spotlight.

If audited by the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP), the PSB accounts of the Ganjera era alone will yield many sensational disclosures of misusing government exchequer money.

There are many big and small Ganjeras operating in sports at the national, provincial and divisional levels and are allegedly hand-in-glove with the government functionaries.

Sources say the government official allegedly pockets 50 percent of the approved grant, a practice that is in effect since long. Further official also has his share in the booty and the leftover money, approximately 25 paisa, is spent on youth.

Unfortunately, besides the national camp, there’s no system to monetarily support player (s) particularly, pertaining to nourishment, conveyance allowance to and from the daily practice venue in these hard times for a sportsman/sportswoman to continue and aim high due to high cost of living.

Majority of the federations and associations are solely dependent on government fundings besides sponsors who take big mileage for doling out meagre amount of money.

It is pity that the poor Lyari boxers, who practice day in and day out, get as low as Rs2,000 and in rare cases Rs5,000 for winning the finals in various weight categories. For this, the young pugilists had to go through at least two preliminary bouts and get bruises on their faces besides winning honours.

This is sheer injustice with emerging boxers and the concerned officials are responsible for selling their product ‘cheaply’. Unfortunately, in the absence of lack of check and balance, this is going unabated.

It is on record that serious allegations were levelled against former Olympians Qasim Zia and Akhtar Rasool-led PHF for plundering millions of rupees during their respective tenures but despite a lot of hue and cry the issue was put under the carpet and nothing has come out in the open yet.

Holding office in sports federation/association is an honorary job but there are people who charge fee per event in addition to getting other perks and financial benefits.

People are of the opinion that the country’s sports will further decline unless the government start probing against alleged black-sheep in sports to bring an end to corrupt practices.

The arrest of Ganjera has at least raised hopes that the government will move forward step-by-step by probing accounts of federations/associations and apprehend the corrupt elements to fulfill its manifesto. To begin the government should probe the PHF and recover the looted money.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2018