Former DG Leaves Athletics Association with Millions in Unpaid Expenses, Government Takes the Credit but Payment Remains Unpaid

 

KikxNow , Digital Creator

Peshawar: The former Director General of Sports, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has reportedly left the Athletics Association with a substantial financial burden as he left office, with the association’s organizers now bearing the consequences.

During the National Athletics Championship held in Peshawar in June, the Provincial Sports Directorate announced that an international-level coaching course would be organized in the city. Following the announcement, the Athletics Association brought more than 30 coaches to Peshawar for a 12-day training course, most of them belonging to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to sources, the coaching course began on August 31 and continued for 12 consecutive days. The opening ceremony was attended by the newly appointed DG Sports, Ashfaq Khan, as chief guest, while the Secretary Sports attended the closing ceremony. The president of the Athletics Association, a serving bureaucrat, also appreciated the provincial government’s efforts, while the Secretary Sports spoke about taking further measures for the welfare and facilitation of coaches.

But the real story began after the ceremonies were over.

According to sources, before the start of the course, the Athletics Association was told that the former DG Sports would provide funds for the expenses of the coaching course. Based on this assurance, the association brought more than 30 coaches to Peshawar and arranged their food and other requirements, while accommodation was provided at a Pakistan Sports Board hall.

However, sources say that the former DG Sports later declined to provide the funds and reportedly shifted the responsibility to the newly appointed DG Sports.

The result was that the coaching course announced at the government level was completed, senior government officials attended both the opening and closing ceremonies, and the government received public appreciation. However, the people who actually bore the expenses of the programme have still not been paid.

According to sources, millions of rupees were spent on the coaches’ training, food and accommodation, while the accommodation expenses at the Pakistan Sports Board were also paid by the organizer.

The situation now is that the organizer who spent money from his own pocket to ensure completion of what was presented as a government-supported programme is reportedly visiting the Sports Directorate every day to seek reimbursement.

The question is: if the Provincial Sports Directorate announced the coaching course, senior officials attended its opening and closing ceremonies, and the programme was publicly appreciated at the government level, why has the organizer who bore the expenses still not been paid?

An even more important question is whether formal approval for the funds was obtained before the coaching course was organized.

If the funds had been approved, where did the money go?

And if the funds had not been approved, on what basis was the Athletics Association assured by the former DG Sports that the expenses would be covered?

This is not merely a matter concerning the money of one association. It also raises questions about financial management and accountability within government institutions.

If a private individual or organization is encouraged to spend money on a government programme and is subsequently left without reimbursement, what organizer would be willing to finance a government programme from his own pocket in the future?

The Sports Directorate now needs to clarify how much the coaching course cost in total, under which budget head the funds were approved, which officer authorized the expenditure, why the organizer has not been paid, and when the outstanding amount will be reimbursed.

The former DG Sports also needs to explain why, if he initially assured the association that funds would be provided, that commitment was later withdrawn and why the organizer who incurred the expenses was directed toward the new DG Sports.

It is easy to receive applause in front of cameras at government events. The real question, however, remains: who is going to pay the bill?