Financial crunch: CDA can’t care for parks, asks advertisers to do so

35 grounds to be handed over to private firms ‘for maintenance’.

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority has decided to sell advertising rights at various sporting facilities to private firms in exchange for standard compensation and responsibility to repair and maintain the facilities.

The private firms will be given specific branding spaces within the facilites. A total of 35 hockey, volleyball, football, and multipurpose grounds in different sectors have been identified for the endeavour. Most of these grounds are in shambles due to the lack of available CDA resources to carry out maintenance.  Curiously, none of the 17 CDA-owned cricket grounds made the list.

The authority has sought expressions of interest from firms. “Some five firms have shown interest,” said CDA Sports and Culture Director General Asif Shahjahan. However, he said that some multinational firms contacted the civic agency after the deadline. “I have forwarded a proposal to advertise the venture again in a bid to get more response from the private sector and to make the project more financially viable,” Shahjahan said.

He said the terms and conditions of the agreements were being vetted by the CDA law directorate.

Under the agreements, the firms would be responsible for upgradation, beautification, maintenance, security, sanitation, and payment of electricity dues of the grounds.

“The decision has been made because these grounds could not be properly maintained due to lack of funds,” said CDA spokesperson Asim Khichi.

Khichi said the firms would also install benches, dustbins and other facilities at the grounds in return for the right to display their advertisements at specific locations in the grounds without disturbing the facilities’ design or beauty.

CDA Administration Member Amir Ali Ahmad said the CDA welcomes all positive suggestions which improve the conditions of sports grounds so that healthy opportunities could be provided to local residents, especially the youth.

He said that according to the directions of the CDA chairman, the companies will only be responsible for upgradation and maintenance of the grounds. “The facilities will remain open and free for public without any discrimination,” he clarified.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21^st, 2014.