Charsadda Sports Directorate: RTI Pending Since April 2025, Questions Raised Over Rs 42.98 Million Expenditure in FY 2025

 

Musarrat Ullah Jan | KikxNow | Investigative Report

Serious questions have emerged over transparency and financial accountability in the Sports Directorate Charsadda after official Finance Department data for fiscal year 2025 revealed total expenditures of Rs 42,982,222, while a detailed RTI request filed on 4 April 2025 remains unanswered.

Despite repeated legal requests under the Right to Information law, no response has been provided by either the Director General Sports Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or the District Sports Officer Charsadda, raising concerns over prolonged administrative silence and non-compliance.

RTI Request Still Pending Since 4 April 2025

The RTI application sought detailed information regarding:

Sports activities conducted during 2023–24 and 2024–25

Number of events, venues, and participant records

Criteria for selection of players and teams

Details of Daily Allowance (DA) payments

Budget utilization and unspent funds

Audit and inspection reports

However, even after several months, no official information has been shared.

Financial Year 2025 Expenditure: Rs 42.98 Million

According to Finance Department records:

Total expenditure: Rs 42,982,222

Most budget heads show full or partial utilization

Several categories reflect zero allocation or unclear utilization patterns

Overall figures indicate a negative budget balance

These figures raise questions about financial management and reporting accuracy, although final conclusions require audit verification.

Majority Spending on Salaries and Allowances

The expenditure breakdown shows that most funds were consumed by:

Basic salaries and multiple allowances (including adhoc and disparity-related allowances)

Contingent staff payments

Routine administrative costs such as electricity, communication, stationery, and maintenance

In contrast, there is limited visible evidence of spending on sports events, athlete development, or structured sports programs.

Structural Issues: Vacant Posts vs High Payroll Spending

The staffing record of the Charsadda Sports Unit shows:

Multiple coaching and administrative positions remain vacant

Key posts such as coaches, clerical staff, and management roles are unfilled

Despite this, significant funds continue to be spent under salary and allowance heads

This raises a key question:

Is the department operating as a sports development institution, or primarily as a payroll-heavy administrative structure?

Key Questions That Remain Unanswered

Why is there no transparent record of sports activities despite high expenditure?

Where are the event-wise reports and athlete selection records?

Why has the RTI request remained pending since April 2025?

How are salary expenses justified alongside multiple vacant posts?

What do audit reports reveal about these financial patterns?

The FY 2025 financial data and the continued non-response to the RTI request highlight a serious transparency gap within the Charsadda Sports Directorate. While Rs 42.98 million has been recorded as expenditure, the absence of clear documentation on sports activities raises concerns that require formal audit review and administrative clarification.

Until full disclosure is provided, questions regarding accountability, fund utilization, and institutional performance remain unresolved.

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