KOHAT: The construction plan of the Kohat division stadium, which was approved in 2017, has been revised and funds increased from Rs160 million to Rs260 million to improve the structure and increase the capacity of the hostel for the players as divisional tournaments are held here.

When contacted, Regional sports officer Syed Sikandar Shah told Dawn on Saturday that floodlights had already been installed at the stadium and Qilla Cricket Ground.

He recalled that Imran Khan had visited Kohat with former chief minister Pervez Khattak and held a public rally at the stadium. After reviewing the arrangements of the approved stadium with having facilities of swimming pool, courts of volleyball and basketball, gym, cricket ground and sports complex he had ordered the expansion of the stadium which had been sanctioned in 2019.

Official says expansion plan worth Rs260m ready for execution

Mr Shah said that now with new capacity 36 players could be accommodated in the hostel at a time. He said that the whole covered area would be 150,100sq/ft excluding the boundary wall. He explained that when the cost was increased retendering of the project was necessary and now they had got the sanctioned amount of Rs260 million and a new contractor would be hired for the project.

Under the new plan, the hostel for the players had been made double storey with 14 rooms on the ground and the same number of rooms on the first floor. Similarly, the roofs of swimming pool and gym have been made heatproof.

He said that work on Ustarzai stadium with a cost of Rs5 million was under way. He said that the district nazim had also approved Rs500,000 with which sports equipment and uniforms for players had been purchased.

DIG CHAIRS MEETING: Chairing a high-level meeting of the regional officials the DIG Kohat division has stressed close coordination with intelligence agencies for audit of the sensitive installations to keep them safe from terrorists.

The meeting was attended by the district police officers of Kohat, Hangu and Karak on Saturday. It assessed the ratio of crimes and punishments awarded to the criminals from the courts.

Regional police chief Tayyab Hafeez Cheema emphasised effective measures and complete implementation of the National Action Plan to curb social menaces like dugs, gambling, etc.

He said that they should make full use of the police assistance lines and dispute resolution councils to help the poor people who could not afford lawyers or pay jirga fees.

Meanwhile, talking to the newly-appointed district police officers in the merged tribal districts

The DIG Kohat division emphasised that they should discharge their professional duties by adhering to the tribal traditions, culture and norms.

He was chairing the first formal meeting at his office on Thursday with the newly-appointed officials.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2019