Gymnasium project in doldrums

Published February 5, 2009

ISLAMABAD, Feb 4: Pakistan Sport’s Boards (PSB) proposed project to build a multi-purpose sports gymnasium over a sprawling piece of land stretching over an area of over 124 kanals in Lahore is in doldrums as it is yet to receive the lease documents from the provincial government.

Talking to Dawn on Wednesday the Director General of the PSB Amir Hamza Gilani said: “The sports board is willing to start developmental work on the three projects but we have not received any lease documents of the land from the Punjab government.”

The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has already approved the scheme for the construction of the multi-purpose sports gymnasium which also includes a cycling track and a hostel.

The total cost of the three projects would be Rs 62.118 million.

“The board is willing to start the work as early as possible to promote the cycling sports in the province but we cannot move an inch on the development work until we get the legal documents from the concerned authorities.”

The design and construction, conceptual drawings of the cycling track, he said, had already been approved and work on the project would commence after the allotment of proposed land to the sports board.

When asked about the time frame of initiation of the development of the project he pointed out: “The matter regarding transfer of land in the name of sports board has not yet been resolved by the Revenue Department, Government of Punjab.”

The board, he said, was in possession of the land but due to bureaucratic attitude and red tape of the Punjab Revenue Department the PSB had to halt ongoing projects at the site.

“We are looking for a way out and to remove the hurdles involved in the way of the development work of this international standard facility,” he added.

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