Shangla Sports Budget: Millions Spent, Zero Results?

 

 

In Shangla, a deprived district lacking sports facilities, millions of rupees are allocated annually for sports development, yet the results are non-existent. A critical review of the official reports for 2023-24 and 2024-25 reveals that the government's narrative of sports development is confined to paperwork.

The information provided by the District Sports Officer Shangla lacks clear details and omits several crucial points. Eleven events were listed for 2023-24, but there was no mention of the number of participating teams, emerging players, or the total expenditure on these events.

The nature of these events was also questionable—an inter-departmental badminton tournament, four events named after the Deputy Commissioner, and three labeled as "Azadi Cup." Were these merely formalities, or did actual sports take place? The report remains silent on this.

The total budget for 2023-24 was 7,887,757 rupees. Of this, 3,667,030 rupees were spent solely on employee salaries. The operational site saw an expenditure of 4,211,735 rupees, with 3,130,000 rupees allegedly spent on sports events. However, there was no breakdown of which event took place when and how much was spent. These figures raise serious questions about transparency.

The District Sports Office itself is housed in a four-marla building on College Road, Alpurai. On the other hand, a 38-kanal sports ground is under construction in Tehsil Chakesar, but there is no information on its progress or utilization.

Currently, the office has seven employees, while three key positions (a senior clerk and two junior clerks) remain vacant. Is this administrative gap hindering sports development or merely an excuse?

During 2023-24, no national, provincial, or international players emerged from Shangla. Despite spending millions, the absence of a sports star from the region proves that the budget is being used to show expenditure rather than benefit the public.

In the new financial year, nine events were conducted, including two "Azadi Cups." Again, there was no mention of the number of players or expenditure details. 7,008,192 rupees were allocated for salaries and benefits, with 4,469,345 rupees already spent. 4.5 million rupees were allocated for salaries, out of which 2.76 million rupees have been spent.

The operational budget was 2.5 million rupees, with 1.719 million rupees spent. 1.6 million rupees were allocated for sports events, but despite spending 1.2 million rupees, there is no breakdown.

The reports from the District Sports Office Shangla raise more questions than they answer. The vague details, lack of performance, and non-transparent use of the budget necessitate an independent audit. Sports are the future of the youth, but if this budget is being used only on paper, it will not only shatter public trust but also bury the dreams of young people.

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