GUJRANWALA: Sports activities at school and college levels have been suspended for the last three years due to non-availability of playgrounds in Ghakhar city.

Hockey players Akhtar Ali, Younas Rachina, Tariq Hanif, Khalid Hanif and Goshi Sikandar told Dawn that Ghakhar Mandi had been a hub of hockey talent for decades from where several players reached international hockey fame and played their role to brighten the nation at international level but school and college playgrounds were being encroached upon by new classroom construction at the cost of sports activities.

While the Punjab government launched a mega project of sports complex at the Government Teachers Training Institute following demolishing residential buildings of school staff but the same complex could not be completed so far despite the lapse of three years. The Punjab government sports board is reportedly making efforts to get it completed.

Divisional Commissioner Gulzar Hussain Shah visited Ghakhar Sports Complex and expressed dissatisfaction over the slow pace of construction work and directed the contractors to complete the construction work by March 10.

Punjab Sports Board Secretary Ehsan Bhutti gave him briefing about the mega project that hockey turf had been laid in the ground while as many four floodlights tower had also been installed around it. Similarly football and cricket grounds would also benefit from from the facility. Also, tennis, volleyball and other sports ground have been established in the complex, besides the construction of multipurpose hall and other residential rooms of Principal and his staff.

Up to Rs365 million were allocated for the project while Rs30 million would be needed more for its completion. An old hockey player and journalist Abdullah Khalid told the divisional commissioner that no pavilion and cemented stairs had been constructed at hockey and cricket ground to watch the matches.

The commissioner advised the sports secretary that pavilion should be completed.

Additional Deputy Commissioner revenue Ali Akbar Bhindar and Wazirabad Assistant Commissioner Waqar Hussain also visited the sports complex on Monday and emphasized the contractors to accelerate the construction work within stipulated period. Chief Officer of Ghakhar Munciplaty Naveed Ashraf Warriach also accompanied him.

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2020