KARACHI, April 13: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has increased its sports budget 400 times during the last two years, aimed at raising the overall standard besides bringing transparency.

“The HEC are incurring a sum of Rs 7.8 million annually in addition to Rs 27.25 million earmarked under PC–I for (2005-06, 2006-07) to help raise the level of sports in 130 public and private affiliated universities and institutions of the country,” director general sports HEC, Talat Khurshed, told Dawn on Friday.

He said efforts are afoot to bring the HEC standard at par with other top departments excelling in sports. “We have suffered a lot in the past after our budding athletes were picked up by different departments for National Games but the practice has now come to an end,” he lamented.

He warned that in future if any outstanding athlete under the umbrella of HEC is found representing a department in National Games would be barred from Inter-university competition.

“We have announced cash incentives for medal winning athletes and their coaches in the 30th National Games and plans to offer scholarships for outstanding athletes in the near future to curb their hiring by departments,” said the official who is here as chef-de-mission of HEC at the games.

A 145-member HEC squad is featuring in 12 men’s and five women’s disciplines in the National Games.

For the first time, the gold medal winner will get Rs15,000, silver medallist will receive Rs10,000 while bronze medallist will fetch Rs7,500. The manager and coaches who have trained the medal winners will get Rs5,000.He admitted the HEC failed to figure on the medals table at the last Quetta games but by Thursday they have fetched two golds and as many bronzes.

Talat Khurshed disclosed that performance of HEC athletes in the ongoing National Games will form criteria for selection of sportspersons for the coming two international events abroad.

Pakistan will feature in the inaugural Islamic Universities Games at Iran from May 1 to 8, followed by participation in 24th World Universiad at Bangkok from Aug 8 to 18.