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Table Tennis Robots or Robotic Excuses? KP Sports Directorate’s Claims vs Reality

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  Musarrat Ullah Jan ,KiKxNow , Digital Creator The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Sports Directorate claims that in 2018–19, it purchased two state-of-the-art table tennis robots from China, branded as YT, for a total cost of PKR 597,500. According to the Directorate, these machines have trained hundreds of athletes, contributing to gold medals and top positions in competitions such as the Inter Board, Federal Board, and the South Asian Championship in Quetta. They insist that the machines are in full working condition and actively support player development. However, the reality tells a very different story. Of the two machines, one is locked away in a room with a coach, effectively gathering dust, while the other lies unused on the ground in public view. Coaches report that operating these robots requires expensive balls—worth over PKR 100,000—which the Directorate has not provided due to budget constraints. Consequently, the machines were reportedly used only once before being aba...
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“Merged Districts Sports Directorate: Where Bicycles Vanish and Accountability Disappears”

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  Musarrat Ullah Jan ,KiKxNow , Digital Creator If you thought sports offices existed to manage medals, trophies, and athlete development, think again. In Pakistan’s former tribal areas, now officially called the Merged Districts, the local Sports Directorate has apparently taken up a new “sport”: losing valuable sports equipment. And not just any loss—it’s a performance that deserves international attention. The story begins with a simple and well-intentioned plan. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) provided bicycles and archery equipment to the Directorate to promote cycling and sports among youth. The logic was straightforward: give children bikes, teach them sports, and perhaps identify future champions. But somewhere along the line, in what reads like a detective novel plot twist, the bicycles—and later, the archery kits—went missing. Initially, the Directorate claimed the bicycles had been handed over to a coach. Problem solved—or so they thought. But trans...
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When Cricketers Tried Their Luck as Investors

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  Extraordinary Profits, Ordinary Silence, and a Very Pakistani Ending Musarrat Ullah Jan ,KiKxNow , Digital Creator In Pakistan, cricket is not just a sport. It is an emotion, an industry, and for some, a shortcut to believing they can win every game life throws at them. Unfortunately, the latest story coming out of cricket circles has nothing to do with cover drives or reverse swing. It is about crores of rupees, unbelievable profit promises, and a silence so loud it raises more questions than answers. According to sources, several former and current Pakistani cricketers have fallen victim to a large-scale alleged financial fraud. The amount involved runs into crores. The surprising part is not that a fraud happened. The surprising part is that no formal complaint has been filed anywhere. Not with the police, not with the FIA, not with NAB, and not even with the Pakistan Cricket Board. For a country where a dropped catch becomes a national debate, this level of quiet is rem...
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Sports in Merged Districts: Women Erased, Men Celebrate

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  Musarrat Ullah Jan , KikxNow , Digital Creator In the merged tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the official sports system exists largely on paper, and only for men. Thousands of male athletes are registered across Bajaur, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram, Orakzai, North Waziristan, and South Waziristan. Women? Zero. Not a single female athlete appears in official records for 2020–21 and 2021–22. The data is stark: Bajaur has 204 clubs with 3,708 men, Khyber 346 clubs with 4,506 men, Mohmand 260 clubs with 3,016 men, Kurram 314 clubs with 3,706 men, Orakzai 172 clubs with 2,204 men, North Waziristan 264 clubs with 3,504 men, and South Waziristan 270 clubs with 3,464 men. Meanwhile, women are completely absent—erased from the system. This is not an oversight. It is a structural exclusion. Official documents exist to project the appearance of development, but they conceal the reality: there are no programs, no training, no clubs, and no pathways for female athletes. Women are red...
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Hassan Khel Sports Complex: Seven Years of Neglect, Youth Deprived of Facilities

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  Musarrat Ullah Jan , KikxNow , Digital Creator Hassan Khel Sports Complex, located in the Hassan Khel sub-division of Peshawar, has been a stark example of government inaction and systemic negligence. Although the complex was constructed in 2018, seven years later it remains largely non-functional. The building exists, but essential sports infrastructure—including playable grounds, equipment, and administrative support—has yet to be provided. Despite repeated official promises, the complex has not been equipped or managed to serve the needs of local youth. The responsibility of maintaining the facility has effectively fallen on the athletes themselves. Using personal resources and small donations, local youth have attempted to keep the complex partially usable, performing cleaning, minor repairs, and organizing makeshift sports activities. This is work that should have been carried out by the relevant government departments. Local athletes and residents emphasize that if th...
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Mardan: Gymnastics Equipment Worth Millions Missing from Pirano Park Gymnasium, Children Forced to Train on Bare Floor

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  Musarrat Ullah Jan , KikxNow , Digital Creator Mardan: Serious questions have been raised over mismanagement in the Pirano Park gymnasium, where gymnastics equipment worth millions of rupees has gone missing, forcing young athletes to continue training without basic facilities. According to sources, the gymnasium at Pirano Park was inaugurated in 2018 by PTI leader and then provincial minister Atif Khan. At the time of its inauguration, the facility was equipped with modern gymnastics apparatus. However, the equipment later disappeared completely and has not been recovered to date. No formal inquiry or public explanation has so far been made regarding the missing assets. Currently, around 20 children from Mardan city are receiving gymnastics training at the same gymnasium. Despite their dedication, they are practicing on a hard floor without mats, apparatus, or safety equipment, significantly increasing the risk of injury and affecting their overall performance. The young...
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After CM’s Online Open Court, Merged Districts Sports Directorate Makes Internal Postings, Keeps Chief Minister in the Dark

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  Musarrat Ullah Jan , KikxNow , Digital Creator Peshawar: Contrary to the assurances and concerns raised during the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s first online open court, the Merged Districts Sports Directorate has quietly taken internal administrative decisions that neither address the core complaint nor reflect the spirit of transparency promised in the forum. During the open court, a hockey player complained that despite having quality sports facilities in Bajaur, no hockey coach had been posted there. Following this public complaint, expectations were high that the issue would be resolved promptly. However, the ground reality tells a different story. Seven sanctioned junior coach posts in Bajaur remain vacant, and no fresh appointment has been made. According to sources, instead of directly appointing a coach, the Sports Directorate opted for an administrative workaround, attempting to “hit two targets with one arrow.” A staff member originally appointed as a co...
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Badminton Machines Worth Millions at DSO Swat Collect Dust, Unused for Five Years

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  Musarrat Ullah Jan , KikxNow , Digital Creator Swat — The badminton machines provided at the DSO Swat Sports Complex have reportedly remained unused for five years, with no information given on maintenance or training conducted using them. Under a Right to Information (RTI) request submitted on June 30, 2025, details were sought regarding how many players trained on these machines between 2020 and 2025, their names and positions, the current condition of the machines, and what maintenance measures had been undertaken. However, the response received on January 13, 2026, contained only empty cabinet photos, with no written explanation or details. The images suggest that the machines have never been used, yet no reason was provided for this neglect. Experts say that such expensive equipment lying unused for years without proper maintenance is a clear sign of administrative failure. The response, or lack thereof, from DSO Swat raises serious questions about transparency and...
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Merged Districts Sports Directorate’s Internal Transfers Raise Questions After KPK CM’s Online Public Hearing

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  Musarrat Ullah Jan , KikxNow , Digital Creator Following the first online public hearing conducted by the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Merged Districts Sports Directorate has carried out internal administrative transfers that have raised concerns about transparency and decision-making. During the hearing, a hockey player complained that despite high-quality facilities in Bajaur, no hockey coach had been assigned there. However, seven vacant junior coach positions in Bajaur remained unfilled. According to sources, the Sports Directorate decided on a dual-purpose administrative move. An official previously serving as a coach was promoted to Grade 16 and transferred to the Khyber district, where he will enjoy the benefits of a Budget and Accounts Officer, while also being assigned coaching duties. The decision appears to be influenced by pressure to place a specific coach in an administrative position, targeting the newly appointed director of the Merged Distric...
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UNDP Launches Inquiry into Missing Bicycles Provided to Merged Districts Sports Directorate

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  Musarrat Ullah Jan , KikxNow , Digital Creator Following a complaint by an investigative journalist from Peshawar, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has initiated an official inquiry into 12 bicycles provided to the Merged Districts Sports Directorate. The total value of these bicycles is estimated at PKR 3.6 million. The investigation began after conflicting information emerged in responses to Right to Information (RTI) requests. In one response, the Sports Directorate admitted that the bicycles were with a coach, while in another, it denied any knowledge or responsibility for the bicycles. Prompted by this contradiction, the journalist requested UNDP to conduct a thorough investigation. Subsequently, UNDP has contacted the Sports Directorate and requested a detailed report regarding the status and whereabouts of the bicycles. These bicycles were initially provided by UNDP to promote cycling in the former FATA region and were reportedly used in competitions...
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