PESHAWAR, Jan 13: Female students of the University of Peshawar have complained that they are deprived of sports facilities in the name of cultural restraints despite being charged sports fees at the time of admission.

A group of female students told this correspondent on Saturday that they were required to pay sports fees worth Rs680 at the time of admission to the university for facilities which did not exist on the campus at all.

They said the university was unable to cater to the sports needs of all students.

“There is only one gymnasium in the university meant for organising sports events for female students. But the same gymnasium is reserved for males later in the afternoon when most of the female students are free and want to avail of the facility,” she said, seconded by the whole group.

“That way, the indoor sports facilities too are almost non-existent, let alone the outdoor ones,” she added.

The university administration, however, describes ‘our social system’ as the ‘main barrier’ as to the lack of girls’ participation in sports.

"Our social system hinders the participation of female students in sports," said Bahr-e-Karam, head of the university’s sports directorate.

"Many female students are restricted by their parents to take part in a sports event while many others are themselves reluctant because they feel shy wearing a track suit in an outdoor event," he said. The female students only partly agreed to the view.

“It’s true that many girls don’t have interest in sports, but those who do have interest can’t avail of the sports facilities because there are male students all around,” said a female student, flanked by others, perhaps pointing towards the need for separate sports facilities for girls.

They demanded of the university administration to organise both indoor and outdoor games for them.

On the other hand, Mr Bahr-e-Karam said that the administration used to send circulars to all departments of the university, asking them to inform the students about the sports activities scheduled on the campus, but hardly any females came forward.

The government and university heads should streamline the process, registering the students interested in sports activities, he opined.

However, some students wondered coming across any circulars notifying sports events on the campus.

If our culture does not allow us to participate in sports activities, then why we are charged sports fees!" a student said.