TAXILA: The formal opening of an indoor sports complex in Hassanabdal has been delayed the last eight months even though almost 80pc of work has been completed.

The project worth Rs65.5 million was started to provide sports facilities to the youth of the country and was put on hold just three months before its scheduled completion in June 2018.

Spread over 10 kanals in a housing colony, the sports complex was approved by then Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif on the request of MPA Punjab Shahwaiz Khan. The then chief minister initially allocated Rs50 million for the project in 2016. The cost of the complex later increased and an additional Rs10.5 million was released as well.

The sports complex includes a squash court, badminton court, basket ball court, volleyball court and a fitness club.

The main building, sports courts and main rooms have been constructed and related facilities also installed. Shahwaiz Khan inaugurated the project in March 2018. Mr Khan could not secure his seat in the 2018 general elections.

The present government has not yet released any funds for it, putting the project to a halt. The contractor still has to be paid Rs3.5 million and the payment has been pending for eight months.

Former MPA Shahwaiz Khan told Dawn that the complex was initiated by the PML-N government in 2016 on public demand.

He said the complex was meant to be one of a kind in the district and that the PTI government is not issuing the necessary funds due to political reasons as the party’s leadership does not want to give credit to the former PML-N government.

The contractor for the project, Malik Anees Iqbal, told Dawn that 80pc of the work on the complex has been completed and that the finance department is not releasing the outstanding Rs3.5 million to the provincial government for the project the last eight months.

He said the higher authorities have been informed time and again about the pending construction work as well.

When asked, federal minister for climate change and PTI local leader Malik Ameen Aslam rejected allegations that the project was being delayed due to political reasons.

He said the delay in the release of funds is due to “technical” reasons. Funds for two new projects initiated in the area by a former MPA including a Rescue 1122 and overhead pedestrian bridge on G.T Road have been released, he said.

The PTI government would not have released these funds either if the delay was due to political reasons, he added.

Mr Aslam said the funds were not released due to the late submission of the bill by the contractor and the funds lapsed due to the closure of the fiscal year.

He said the matter is in the notice of the local leadership and efforts are underway for releasing 20pc of the outstanding funds for opening the complex at the earliest.

District Sports Officer Mohammad Asif Sheikh told Dawn the project is in its final stages and that once completed, the building will be handed over to the sports department.

He said the provincial authorities have been approached for the early release of funds and that it is expected that the outstanding funds will be released in the next few weeks.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2019