LAHORE: Several employees of the Sports Board Punjab, working on daily wages, work charge, till further orders and regular positions, staged a protest at the National Hockey Stadium over non-payment of their salaries for the past two to three months.

The protesting employees carried placards demanding the release of their outstanding salaries and other dues. They also called for an increase in their wages in line with the minimum wage limit of Rs37,000.

The SBP is responsible for supervising numerous stadiums across Punjab, with their numbers increasing each year. To maintain these facilities, both permanent and temporary staff are required. However, no specific budget has been allocated for their salaries, and the sports board’s own resources are insufficient to cover these expenses.

Dawn has learnt that the finance ministry did not approve the summary seeking an increase in the grant-in-aid for the sports board. Now, it falls under the domain of the chief minister to approve an increase through her cabinet.

The protest was temporarily halted as the National Hockey Stadium was set to host a match between Pakistan and Germany junior teams on Tuesday. However, the employees have vowed to continue their protest if immediate relief is not provided.

It is learnt that the last time the grant-in-aid was increased back in 2007.

Published in Dawn, March 12th, 2025