Newly Appointed KP Sports DG Faces Major Challenges: Daily-Wage Coaches Left in Limbo

 

 

PESHAWAR – The newly appointed Director General (DG) of Sports in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa faces serious challenges, with one of the most pressing issues being the uncertain future of hundreds of daily-wage coaches who have been serving across various cities for years without permanent status.

Despite dedicating up to a decade to the development of athletes at district, provincial, and national levels, many of these coaches remain classified as temporary employees. Most have previously been athletes themselves, representing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in major national competitions, yet their services have been consistently undervalued.

The situation worsened when, in 2022, the then-DG abruptly terminated the services of more than 294 daily-wage employees, including coaches, many of whom continued to train athletes voluntarily without any salary for nearly a year. Their services were reinstated by former DG Abdul Nasir Khan in 2023; however, they remained under informal and unstable contracts.

Now, with April 2025 marking the end of their one-year contracts, the fate of these coaches hangs once again in uncertainty, as the Directorate has not issued any clear directives for contract renewals or permanent employment. This violates the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sports Policy 2018, which under Section 4.3 mandates "fair employment practices for sports professionals."

Coaches, speaking anonymously, expressed frustration over the situation, highlighting that despite producing national and international athletes, they continue to be treated as expendable. “We dedicated six to eight years training athletes, but we are still regarded as temporary workers. Some permanent employees barely fulfill their duties, while we continue to work diligently without job security,” one coach stated.

Another coach revealed the inequality in recruitment processes, claiming that newly inducted individuals with political or internal support received national-level certificates and were regularized quickly, while long-serving coaches remained ignored. "After working one full year without pay, no one even asked how our families survived," the coach lamented.

Financial mismanagement has further compounded the issue. Although PKR 12 million was allocated for coach salaries in the 2023–24 budget, official documents reveal that a significant portion of the funds was diverted to infrastructure projects instead.

The situation in KP stands in stark contrast to other provinces. Punjab regularized 1,200 coaches after five years of service in 2021, while Sindh offers three-year renewable contracts along with benefits. Meanwhile, in KP, over 80% of coaches working in regional academies in Peshawar, Mardan, and Swat remain on daily wages without job security.

Despite multiple promises, actual policy implementation remains absent. Experts argue that allowing coaches to work without official documentation or service contracts is not only unethical but also illegal.

With the 2025.26 sports budget preparation underway, stakeholders believe the new DG has a crucial opportunity to correct past mistakes. A transparent, merit-based regularization process based on service records and performance could strengthen the sports sector and honor the commitment of these forgotten heroes.

The coaches of KP are not seeking mere promises anymore — they demand action, respect, and the dignity they rightfully deserve.

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