Parang Sports Ground, Charsadda: Lack of Transparency and RTI Delays

 

 

Musarrat Ullah Jan | Kikxnow Digital Creator

Infrastructure and financial transparency are critical for promoting sports and youth development. However, an examination of Parang Sports Ground in Charsadda reveals not just gaps in basic record-keeping but also a delay of over seven months in responding to a Right to Information (RTI) request.

In August 2025, under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Right to Information Act 2013, I filed a detailed RTI with the District Sports Officer (DSO), Charsadda, requesting records for financial years 2023–24, 2024–25, and 2025–26 (ongoing). The RTI sought the following key details:

Events and Training Programs: Complete monthly and event-wise lists of matches, tournaments, and training camps, including the type of sport, teams, and number of participants.

Bookings and Ground Allotments: Copies of all bookings, allotment records, and details of any eligibility or selection criteria.

Revenue and Expenses: Weekly and monthly revenue breakdowns (gate collections, sponsorships, stall/concession fees, parking, advertising) and expenditures (maintenance, utilities, security, event management, honoraria, etc.), including receipts, invoices, challans, and bank statements.

Staff and Salaries: Full list of staff associated with the ground and DSO office, their positions, employment type (permanent or daily wage), monthly salary, and relevant accounts head.

SOPs and Audit Reports: Copies of SOPs for bookings, fees, maintenance, and security, and any audit or inspection reports for the requested periods.

Since the KP government emphasizes a paperless system, the request specifically asked for digital, searchable formats (PDF or Excel) so that the data could be transparent and verifiable.

Despite more than seven months having passed, the DSO Charsadda has not provided a single record. This delay is not minor—it represents a serious breach of transparency and accountability. The RTI Act clearly states that failure to provide information, or undue delay, constitutes a legal violation and demands strict enforcement.

Lack of Accountability: Public officials are legally obliged to provide information. Delaying an RTI for over seven months is a clear violation of their statutory responsibilities.

Operational Opacity: Without proper records, it is impossible to verify how many events actually took place, which players and teams benefited, or how public funds were used.

Potential Financial Mismanagement: The absence of transparent records opens the door to ghost expenditures, misuse of funds, or favoritism toward specific individuals or teams.

Systemic Weaknesses: This is not an isolated problem. It reflects broader weaknesses in KP’s sports administration, including poor record-keeping, lack of RTI compliance, and limited public oversight.

Parang Sports Ground is more than just a facility—it is a key training and recreational center for local youth. When records are opaque:

Opportunities for genuine sports participation are limited, as some teams or individuals may monopolize the ground due to influence or informal arrangements.

Financial resources and facilities are distributed non-transparently, restricting opportunities for young athletes.

Public funds are potentially misused, undermining community trust in sports governance and reinforcing the perception that corruption is widespread.

Any public institution, especially those managing public funds and assets, must prioritize transparency. In the case of Parang Sports Ground, immediate actions are required:

Intervention by the Provincial Information Commission: Ensure legal compliance and compel the DSO to respond.

Independent Audit: Conduct a full audit of the ground’s finances and operations, overseen by an external and independent auditor.

Digital Record-Keeping: All events, revenues, expenses, and staff data must be maintained digitally and in searchable formats to enable public scrutiny.

Enforce SOPs and Policies: Clear SOPs for bookings, fees, maintenance, and security must be implemented and strictly monitored.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Right to Information Act 2013 is not only about accessing records—it is meant to promote government transparency, citizen participation, and prevent corruption. Delays or non-compliance in providing RTI responses threaten public trust and weaken the rule of law.

The Parang Sports Ground case is not isolated; it reflects a wider pattern of mismanagement and lack of transparency in KP sports administration. Recent reports and investigations have highlighted several issues:

Ghost events and unverified sponsorships in multiple districts.

Staff shortages or redeployment in sports directorates.

Non-transparent use of funds and alleged misuse of sports representation internationally.

All these point to a single conclusion: fundamental reforms are urgently needed in KP’s sports governance.

A delay of over seven months in responding to an RTI, the absence of operational and financial records for Parang Sports Ground, and a broader lack of transparency in KP sports administration send a clear message: the rights of citizens and athletes are being ignored.

This situation is not only a violation of law but a threat to the trust of young athletes and the public. Without immediate reforms and legal enforcement, Parang and other sports grounds risk becoming centers of corruption and mismanagement, while genuine sports development is neglected.

The Provincial Information Commission must intervene immediately.

Independent auditing and digital record-keeping should be implemented.

SOPs and policy enforcement must be prioritized.

These steps are essential not only for Parang Sports Ground but for ensuring transparency, accountability, and the proper functioning of sports administration across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

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