Scarcity of funds: Construction of 33 playgrounds hampered

Government has approved 15 more arenas worth Rs225 million for 2016-17

PESHAWAR:

A scarcity of funds has set back the construction of 33 playgrounds across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in 2015. So far the Communication and Works department has handed over seven grounds to the K-P Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs.

According to documents available with The Express Tribune, the Directorate of Sports initially approved 47 playgrounds and allocated Rs705 million for their completion. The number of such facilities was later increased to 62 and an additional Rs225 million was allocated for them. As per the documents, each ground would cost around Rs15 million.

Obstacle course

At least 13 sites are considered disputed territory over which the government has filed cases at the high court. Meanwhile, another playground had its tender cancelled on three occasions and is yet to be handed over to a contractor by the C&W department to begin construction. So far, the K-P communication and works department handed over seven grounds to directorate of sports and youth affairs.

At least, Rs300 million has been released to construct playgrounds, while the remaining amount would be made available this year.

Delays in 2015

While speaking to The Express Tribune, K-P Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs Director Development Naimatullah Khan said construction work on seven playgrounds has been completed, while work on other grounds is under way.

He said they fixed December 31, 2015 as the deadline for the construction of 33 grounds but due to an unavailability of funds, they were not able to meet it. He said two grounds were constructed in Kohat, two in Karak, one in Mardan and two in Dir Lower. Naimatullah told The Express Tribune the directorate sent a summary to the chief minister to release funds for the purpose but they have not received any reply.

However, an official of the sports and youth affairs department requesting anonymity said Pakistan-Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairperson Imran Khan held a meeting with Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and expressed his dissatisfaction over the progress and designs of the playgrounds. He asked the provincial government to expedite work on the project which was also a part of the party’s manifesto for the province.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2016.