ISLAMABAD: While ignoring new sports development schemes, the federal government on Friday earmarked Rs1.85 billion only for 13 ongoing projects of the sector for the fiscal year 2026-27.

According to the budget documents, the government allocated the above-mentioned sum for sports infrastructure development projects under the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) that oversees country’s sports sector as well.

Among the major projects receiving allocations is the establishment of the Arshad Nadeem and Shehbaz Sharif High Performance Sports Academy at the Pakistan Sports Complex (PSC), Islamabad, for which Rs250 million have been earmarked. This project, approved under the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Jan 27, 2025, carries a cost of Rs895.087 million.

Significant allocations have also been made for the provision of missing facilities for the South Asian Games at the Pakistan Sports Complex, Islamabad, including a warm-up track, heat exchanger, residential flats for coaches, multipurpose halls, fencing, a five-a-side hockey ground, futsal grounds and master planning, for which Rs134.832 million have been allocated against a total cost of Rs769.391 million.

The construction of a PSB Coaching Centre in Skardu has received Rs150 million while replacement and laying of synthetic hockey turfs at seven places — Islamabad, Faisalabad, Wah Cantt, Peshawar, Quetta, Muzaffarabad and Swat — has been allocated Rs120 million.

A fund of Rs271.200 million has been allocated for the provision and installation of electronic displays and scoring systems at the Pakistan Sports Complex and the PSB Coaching Centres while the air-conditioning of Liaquat Gymnasium at the Pakistan Sports Complex will get Rs158.371 million.

An amount of Rs150 million has been allocated for laying a synthetic athletics track, football ground, sprinkling system and floodlights at Karachi’s PSB Coaching Centre.

A sum of Rs144.512 million has been earmarked for the ongoing development project in Faisalabad where a multi-purpose sports complex with two padel courts is being constructed.

A fund of Rs196.587 million has been earmarked for rehabilitation and upgradation of existing facilities at the PSB Coaching Centre in Karachi while Rs26.415 million have been kept in the budget for the construction of a players’ hostel at the same centre.

According to the budget document, Rs88.226 million have been allocated for rehabilitation and upgradation of existing facilities at the Pakistan Sports Complex in Islamabad which will host the South Asian Games.

While a sum of Rs90.5 million has been earmarked for revamping the PSC, Rs70 million has been allocated for establishing a bio-mechanical lab at the same place.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2026