South Asian Games budget rejected

ECC says estimates are inaccurate, demands clear financial plan for 2025 event

ISLAMABAD:

The country's economic managers have rejected a proposed budget for the 14th edition of the South Asian Games (SAG) in Pakistan, citing inflated figures and a lack of accurate financial estimates.

Sources revealed that the Inter-Provincial Coordination Division had requested an allocation of Rs400 million to host the games. However, during a recent meeting, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) expressed dissatisfaction over the proposal, stating that the budget presented was not based on factual estimates. The division admitted that the proposed allocation would not be enough to cover the event's total costs.

To address the shortfall, the Inter-Provincial Coordination Division proposed approaching the private sector for additional funds and generating resources through advertisements. Furthermore, they requested the Government of Punjab to shoulder part of the expenses.

Despite these suggestions, the ECC was displeased with the reliance on speculative figures and the absence of a clear plan for financial closure. The committee directed the ministry to present a detailed breakdown of the financial arrangements for the SAG at the next ECC meeting without delay.

The division also briefed the ECC on the history of the South Asian Federation Games (SAF), noting that the idea was first discussed in 1981 in Germany by representatives from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. While the games were initially planned to begin in 1982, political instability in the region delayed the inaugural event until 1984.

On September 17, 1984, the first edition of the SAF Games was held at Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal, with King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and Queen Aishwarya Rajya Laxmi Devi presiding over the opening ceremony. The event was marked by celebrations and adopted the motto of "peace, perseverance, and progress."

Since then, 13 editions of SAG have taken place, with Pakistan hosting the 4th edition in 1989 and the 9th edition in 2004. Now, after the South Asian Olympic Council (SAOC) granted approval, Pakistan is set to host the 14th edition of the games in April 2025, with Islamabad and Lahore designated as the primary host cities.

However, the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) is facing mounting pressure from South Asian member countries to either move forward with hosting the games or transfer the rights to Sri Lanka, where the next edition is planned. To prevent the hosting rights from being transferred, the Prime Minister's Office instructed the Finance Division to allocate sufficient funds to the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination.

In response, the Finance Division agreed to release Rs400 million through a Technical Supplementary Grant (TSG) to support the event. The allocation was meant to cover a significant portion of the estimated expenses for organising the games.

The ECC, however, deferred the agenda item during its meeting. Despite the agreement to release the TSG, the ECC demanded that the Inter-Provincial Coordination Division provide a comprehensive financial plan detailing how the requisite funds will be secured. This plan is expected to include specifics on how the funding gap will be closed, whether through private sector involvement or other means, and how additional revenue streams, such as advertisements, will be managed.

Moreover, the ECC instructed the division to submit logistical arrangements for the games at the next meeting.