KikxNow , Digital Creator

  PESHAWAR – Despite the passage of nearly three months, the Culture and Tourism Authority of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has failed to respond to a Right to Information (RTI) request filed on 11 January 2025, seeking transparency on key issues related to vehicle purchases, fuel usage, procurement processes, and official appointments within the department. The application, submitted via email to the office of the Director General, specifically requested: The number and dates of police vehicle purchases by the department The current location and operational status of these vehicles The total number of vehicles allocated to police and other officials Fuel consumption details (type, quantity, and usage logs) Information regarding officials holding additional charges or dual roles Procurement and event management-related financial data Despite proper documentation, including email submission and attached screenshots, no response has been received to date—violating the Khyber Pak...

  PESHAWAR – The Culture and Tourism Authority of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continues to ignore critical questions of public interest, as a second Right to Information (RTI) request sent on 11 January 2025 remains unanswered well into April. This RTI request, sent to the office of the Director General, specifically sought transparency regarding:   The number of officials currently holding additional charges within the Culture and Tourism Authority The official grades of such individuals The originating departments or positions from which these additional charges were assigned The names and designations of officials responsible for procurement The names, roles, and tenure dates of individuals overseeing event management Despite clearly stated queries and submission of proper documentation, the department has failed to respond within the legal time limit of 10–20 working days as mandated by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa RTI Act 2013. This delay is not only a violation of the l...

  Peshawar: Questions are being raised regarding the effectiveness of sports development initiatives in Tor Ghar. According to a report issued by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sports Directorate, the District Sports Office (DSO) Tor Ghar has six designated posts, of which four are currently filled, while two positions remain vacant. Furthermore, the office has no contract employees. The report reveals that in the fiscal year 2023-24, a budget of 1.5 million rupees was allocated for sports activities, and 33 sports events were conducted. Despite these efforts, not a single player of national or provincial level emerged from these initiatives. In the fiscal year 2024-25, the DSO received 0.9 million rupees over eight months, during which 19 sports events were organized. Yet again, no notable player was produced from these activities. Interestingly, the DSO Tor Ghar has only one registered sports association, and there is no record of any registered club. Though several tournaments were ...

      Peshawar: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa volleyball teams are all set to be selected for the upcoming National Games, scheduled to take place in Karachi from May 1 to May 9. According to a report issued by the Secretary General of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Volleyball Association, the trials for both the women's and men's volleyball teams will be held on April 11 and April 12 at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sports Directorate. The trials will be conducted under the supervision of Khalid Waqar, President of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Volleyball Association, and Zulfiqar Butt, Secretary of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Olympic Association. The selection committee for these trials comprises Bakhtiar Alam, Secretary General of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Volleyball Association; Laik Zaman, Joint Secretary; Khalid Khan Jadoon, Associate Secretary; Miss Sadia Gul, Member of the Executive Committee; and Wasifullah, Volleyball Coach at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sports Directorate. Players from across t...

    In sports journalism, a journalist's role is not limited to reporting events and results but also to holding those in power accountable. However, when faced with resistance and a lack of transparency from officials, fulfilling this responsibility becomes challenging. This is the situation I am currently facing as a journalist in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where a District Sports Officer (DSO) from the merged districts has not only refused to respond to multiple Right to Information (RTI) requests but also resorted to derogatory remarks against me. The issue began with my persistent efforts to obtain transparency regarding various sports events held in the merged districts. I submitted several formal RTI requests to gather details about the tournaments and other sports activities that were mentioned in official records but were never reported or covered in public channels. Despite these legitimate requests, the DSO did not respond, raising suspicions that either information wa...

  The peaceful Swat valley where the sound of the mountains used to blend with the thunder of sports was suddenly plunged into an eerie silence. A local reporter, reported a horrific gap in sports expenditure. In 2023-24, Swat's sporting activity was active. The echoes of the Deputy Commissioner Swat Badminton Tournament rattled the hills, while volleyball and hockey tournaments won the hearts of the locals. World Tourism Day Hockey Match gave a chance to the community to rejoice their sporting heroes. Community Sports Festivals made the valley a venue of festive activity. But this euphoria had a sinister secret behind the spending of money. More than 3.5 million rupees were incurred, but none of the details of these expenditures were revealed. A treadmill machine, football uniforms, and fitting an intriguing SMD screen were the items that found space in the report, but the detail was strikingly missing. In 2024-25, silence reigned. Sports funds were drastically cut, and the ...

  Do you want to shoot that winning shot? Do you hear the roar of the crowd urging you on? Now you have your chance! The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa basketball team trials are finally here. This is your opportunity to be a representative of your area. Assembling the team requires more than talent. You must learn the process. You must ready yourself. You must know what the selectors are looking for. This guide provides you with all you need to try out for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa basketball team. We will discuss the dates, venues, what to bring, and how to enhance your performance. Ready to elevate your game? Let us begin! Having a clue as to when and where to be is crucial. Don't miss these key details for the men's and women's trials. This is the information you should put on your calendar. Men's Team Trials: April 5th and 6th The men's trials will take place at the Peshawar Sports Complex. The location is Stadium Road, Peshawar. Women's Team Trials: 6th and...

  The Ehsaas Naujawan Program (ENP) has made a substantial stride towards the promotion of youth entrepreneurship and economic independence in Pakistan by providing interest-free loans under two significant components. ENP aims to target the youth of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa so that they can set up or grow their businesses. The first element of ENP, administered by the Bank of Khyber, offers interest-free loans of PKR 1.0 to 5.0 million. The purpose of this scheme is to benefit medium-scale business propositions by grouping three to five individuals into an Association of Partnership (AOP). The loans under this element bear an easy repayment schedule of 96 months, along with a 20-month grace period. So far, 9,460 applications have been received online. Following a rigorous three-tier verification process, 25 potential clusters have been discovered, and PKR 61.9 million has been disbursed. The Bank of Khyber has released PKR 200 million to the project from the released funds. The se...

  Khyber – A storm is  on   the horizon  in the sporting  realm  of Khyber district, as an inquiry committee,  established  by the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC),   investigates   claims   of  ghostly  sports activities and  embezzled  funds. The  peaceful   veneer  of athletic  pursuit  hasbeen  laid   bare  by  accusations  that  sports  competitions  were   nonexistent   in   reality , with players  given   only  jerseys as  nominal  participation,while  real  events  were   noticeably   lacking . The  spark  for this  inquiry  was a  wave  of complaints  charging  that the District Sports Officer (DSO) Khyber  did   not   conduct   genuine  sporting events  in   fiscal years 2023-24 and 2024-25.The ...