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KARACHI: The Ministry of Sports, which is likely to be devolved in the near future, has assets worth billions of rupees in the urban and rural Sindh, a study conducted by Dawn revealed.
Besides a sprawling coaching centre, the ministry has stakes in nine developing projects –– three in the city and six in the interior Sindh.
The three projects funded by the federal government are boxing gymnasium, sportsmen hostel and staff quarters (PSB Coaching Centre Karachi), two in Sukkur (hockey astro-turf and sports complex), and one each at Sehwan, Mirpurkhas, Tando Adam and Jacobabad.
In addition, the sports ministry was still awaiting a piece of land as promised by the Sindh government in lieu of over four decade old M.A. Jinnah Road indoor sports complex land.
Formerly National Sports Trust (NST), the PSB Coaching Centre was founded in 1965 with the late Khawaja Saleem Ahmed as its first director.
Presently, it has facilities for athletics, badminton, table tennis, basketball, volleyball (indoor), football ground, two tennis courts, boxing training hall, fitness centre and sportsmen hostel. It is equipped with the only tartan track for athletes of the province. The strength of its staff is around 50 people.
The newly built squash courts was not commissioned following a dispute between PSB and the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) over its control.
Efforts are afoot to create an Olympic-size swimming pool, a snooker hall, apart from restoration of a grassy hockey ground which now serves as parking lot. It’s PC-I has already been approved by the P&D.
Meanwhile, eighty per cent work on new block of sportsmen hostel has been completed. The facility will serve accommodation for 60 people upon completion.
Plans are also in hand to extend stairs to facilitate approximately 3000 people. Presently, it caters to 1200 persons.
The Coaching Centre was grossly misused when its previous management converted the then grassy hockey field into marriage garden. However, taking a serious note the incumbent director stopped giving premises for marriages.
It is unclear when, exactly, the devolution of the ministry will take place and how these assets will be managed once it happens.
