Bodybuilding Controversy Exposes Institutional Failure: KP Government Funding, PSB Restrictions, and the Silence of Sports Authorities

 

Musarrat Ullah Jan,KikxNow,Digital Creator

Pakistan’s sports governance system has once again come under serious scrutiny after the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government approved a special grant-in-aid for a national bodybuilding championship, despite the fact that the Pakistan Sports Board had already declared the bodybuilding body associated with Tariq Pervaiz as unrecognized. The issue raises major concerns not only about the use of public funds but also about weak enforcement, institutional contradictions, and the lack of accountability among Pakistan’s sports authorities.

On April 4, 2026, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government cabinet approved several sports-related measures, including a special grant for a bodybuilding championship held in Peshawar. However, the official cabinet statement did not specify which organization was behind the event. This omission became significant because only months earlier the Pakistan Sports Board had issued an official circular stating that the “Pakistan Bodybuilding Federation” associated with Tariq Pervaiz was not recognized and had no legal authority to operate as a national federation.

The PSB circular clearly directed all relevant stakeholders to disregard any communications or decisions issued by the federation linked to Tariq Pervaiz. It also warned that unrecognized entities were not entitled to use the name “Pakistan” or represent the sport at the national level. On paper, the directive appeared strong. In practice, however, events on the ground suggest otherwise.

If a bodybuilding body has officially been declared unrecognized by the federal sports regulator, how can an event linked to the same network receive provincial government funding? If public funds are being allocated to activities associated with an organization whose legal status is already disputed, then this is more than an administrative oversight. It points to a deeper governance failure.

Tariq Pervaiz has strongly defended his organization’s legitimacy. According to him, if his federation were truly barred, it would not be participating in national competitions. “If we were banned, we would not be able to participate in the National Games under PSB. All departments are with us, and we have been associated with bodybuilding for a long time,” he said.

His statement exposes the contradiction at the heart of the issue. If the Pakistan Sports Board has indeed imposed restrictions or denied recognition, then why is the federation still operating, organizing events, maintaining departmental support, and apparently receiving indirect public assistance? This contradiction suggests that there is a serious gap between policy and implementation.

This is where the main criticism falls on the Pakistan Sports Board itself. Issuing circulars and public notices is not enough. Regulation without enforcement is ineffective. If an authority declares a body unrecognized but allows it to continue functioning openly, then the authority’s directives lose credibility.

The problem is not simply about bodybuilding. It reflects a larger pattern in Pakistan’s sports administration, where institutions issue formal orders but fail to enforce them. As a result, powerful individuals and groups continue operating with little resistance, while official policies remain confined to paperwork.

 

In this case, the PSB’s failure to enforce its own directives has created confusion over legitimacy and authority in bodybuilding governance. Athletes, departments, and provincial institutions are left uncertain about which body is officially recognized and who has the legal right to represent the sport. Such ambiguity damages the integrity of the entire sports governance framework.

The role of the Pakistan Olympic Association must also be questioned. As the umbrella body responsible for overseeing national federations and ensuring compliance with Olympic governance standards, the Pakistan Olympic Association should be providing clarity whenever disputes arise over recognition and authority. Yet, in cases like this, its silence only deepens the confusion.

If one sports authority declares a federation unrecognized while the same federation continues to operate in official environments, then the Pakistan Olympic Association has a responsibility to intervene and clarify which body holds legitimate authority. Its failure to do so allows institutional disorder to persist.

At the provincial level, the KP government also bears responsibility. Public funding for sports must be distributed through a transparent, rules-based process. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, many registered sports associations have reportedly received little or no grant support in recent years, yet selective events continue to receive special financial approvals. This imbalance creates the impression that funding decisions may be inconsistent, discretionary, or influenced by factors outside a transparent policy framework.

When legitimate associations struggle financially while disputed bodies remain active and well-supported, confidence in the system erodes. Athletes suffer, associations weaken, and institutional trust collapses. Instead of strengthening sports development, such practices undermine it.

The core issue is not whether Tariq Pervaiz organized an event. The core issue is whether sports institutions in Pakistan are capable of enforcing their own decisions. If the Pakistan Sports Board declares a body unrecognized, provincial governments should not be funding activities linked to that body without clear legal justification. If provincial authorities continue to provide support, then the regulator’s directives become meaningless.

This controversy reveals a broader institutional crisis in Pakistan’s sports governance system. The real issue is not one individual or one federation. The real issue is that sports authorities appear unable or unwilling to establish clear lines of authority, enforce regulations consistently, and ensure accountability in the use of public funds.

Until the Pakistan Sports Board enforces its own directives, until the Pakistan Olympic Association takes responsibility for clarifying recognition disputes, and until provincial governments apply transparent criteria in funding sports events, these conflicts will continue to undermine the development of sports in Pakistan.

Pakistan’s athletes do not just need funding. They need a governance system based on transparency, accountability, and enforceable rules. Without that, circulars become symbolic, policies become irrelevant, and institutions lose authority.

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