Development of new sports facilities in MTDs a priority

Most of the work on Mardan sports complex complete

PESHAWAR:

The government plans to develop new sporting facilities while upgrading older ones as a priority in the merged tribal districts.

This was stated by Prime Minister Imran Khan’s 1,000 Sports Ground Facilities Project Director Murad Ali Mohmand on Wednesday.

Apart from developing playing facilities under the project, work is in full swing to construct playgrounds in Mardan, Malakand and Dir.

Under the project, he said that the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Sports Directorate is constructing a modern sports complex where facilities for multiple sports will be available. The complex, spread over 151 kanals of land, is being constructed in Rustam, a sub-Tehsil of Mardan. Around 65 per cent of work on the project has been completed, including around 80 per cent of work on the playground, and 60 per cent on the pavilion.

Once finished, it will provide playing facilities of international standards to the people of Mardan.

The scheme had been initially approved in 2014 at an estimated cost of Rs241 million, Mohmand said, adding that construction of the complex stalled for some time but now work on the project is in full swing.

For the tribal areas, Mohmand said that some 11 playing facilities for the merged tribal districts have been approved and another 10 are in process.

The approved schemes include the Chappari Cricket Ground in Jamrud, a cricket academy in Dhang Qamar Khel Muhammad Azeem Killi of Bara, a cricket academy in Katia Khel of Jamrud, a football ground at the Government High School in Landikotal along with various other sports facilities.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23^rd, 2020.