LAHORE, July 20: The officials of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and Punjab Sports Department (PSD) meet in Islamabad on July 24 to discuss the controversial issue of the PSB-funded Boxing Gymnasium, the construction of which has become a bone of contention between the two departments.

The PSB started construction work on the gymnasium at the Nishtar Sports Complex last year at a cost of Rs 400 million. But to their amazement, Punjab’s revenue department ordered the federal department last month to stop the construction work which was 70 per cent complete at the time.

Accusing the federal department of illegally sub-letting one portion of the gymnasium to a private party, the provincial authority ordered immediate stoppage of work at the site.

Clarifying its stance, Secretary PSD Arshad Bhatti said all sports institutions situated in the Nishtar Sports Complex, including Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB, could only sub-let the premises under their occupation after paying 20 per cent of the income to the department.

The revenue department also decided to measure the exact area occupied by various sports institutions at the complex which includes Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), Lahore Cricket Association, PSB and the PCB.

Interestingly, the provincial government had given the land to the PSB to build National Sports Coaching and Training Centre (NSCTC) way back in 1960. Later, however, it was decided that the federal government could construct any sports facility at the complex. The PSB started construction work on the gymnasium in 1973 but only 30 per cent of work was possible at the time due to a dispute involving the concerned authority and the contractor.

On its part, the provincial government is said to have ordered the stoppage of work because it was trying to give 100 kanals of the precious land of the complex to a foreign group who are planning to construct a multi-storeyed building at the Ferozepur Road facing the PSB coaching centre.

The aftermath of such a move could result in the demolition country's lone cycling velodrome and also of the newly built FIFA House of Pakistan Football Federation.