Sports Associations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Struggle Due to Lack of Funding, Sports Directorate's Controversial Policies Under Scrutiny

 

 

More than 38 sports associations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been struggling for the past three years due to a lack of funds. The provincial sports directorate has not been providing these associations with financial support for the promotion of sports and organizing events, making it difficult for them to hold competitions. On top of that, the issue of sponsorship looms large, as no major companies or institutions are stepping forward to sponsor any sporting events in the region.

 

During the tenure of former sports minister Syed Aqil Shah, these associations used to receive annual grants ranging from 300,000 to 500,000 PKR, with the promise of further increments. However, the situation changed drastically after the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a halt in funding. Some associations have quietly received limited funds, but they refrain from publicizing this for fear of sparking protests from other associations that are still without funding.

 

The sports directorate's controversial approach of providing funds to a few associations while sidelining others has raised eyebrows. With major upcoming events such as the Quaid-e-Azam Games and National Games, this inconsistency in funding could have serious consequences, as most athletes are affiliated with these associations.

 

According to sources in the provincial sports directorate, the finance department allocates grants in the budget, but these funds are never transferred to the directorate. As a result, initiatives like scholarships for under-21 athletes have almost disappeared, leaving many young players still waiting for promised scholarships. Many of them had opened accounts with the Bank of Khyber in anticipation of these funds.

 

Furthermore, there are instances where parallel associations are being run in various districts, with some District Sports Officers (DSOs) using their influence to favor specific associations. Questions related to the allocation of district budgets for sports are often met with resistance from these officials, who hold grade-17 positions and consider themselves untouchable. A prime example of this is in the districts of Khyber and Peshawar, where DSOs have consistently refused to provide information under the Right to Information law, ignoring official warnings from the Information Commission.

 

Despite all these challenges, one of the most pressing concerns is the fact that most of these sports associations are not legally registered with any government entity. As per the law, all associations are required to be registered under the Societies Registration Act of 1861, but only a couple of associations out of 38 have complied. The rest exist on paper but lack offices, bank accounts, and the minimum required membership of seven members. When questioned about their failure to register, they often claim the law does not apply to them, despite the fact that receiving government funds and presenting themselves as associations obligates them to be registered.

 

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