The Senate Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination discussed Rs 3.66 billion budgetary proposals for Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) - 2019-20 for various development projects relating to sports and games in the country.
The committee met with Senator Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan Nasar in the chair here at Parliament House on Friday. The committee discussed Rs 3.66 billion development projects including Rs 2.84 billion for ongoing projects and Rs 780 million for new projects of Pakistan Sports Board and 38 other development projects of the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination.
Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination secretary Akbar Durrani told the committee that a total of Rs 735.76 million out of Rs 3 billion, are required to complete construction of National Sports City at Narowal project. He said the project is almost complete but Rs 735.76 million are required to give the final touches to the project. He said the project is idle due to National Accountability Bureau (NAB) investigations. He said the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested the DG project and other officers relating to the project.
Secretary said building of Biomechanical Lab at Pakistan Sports Complex Islamabad has been completed but Rs 9.675 million is required for purchasing and installation of machineries in the lab.
The secretary also briefed the committee about six unapproved new projects of Rs 2.23 billion of total cost, while proposed allocation for the next financial year 2019-20 is Rs 780 million. He said that many ongoing projects are being affected due to non-release of funds.
The committee recommended that Finance Ministry should release funds for completing ongoing development projects as early as possible. The committee chairman said hockey is national game and Pakistan had remained world chairman but now it is declining. He said the ministry should take actions and allocate funds in PSDP 2019-20 for progress of hockey game in the country particularly in Quetta. He also proposed to establish committees at provincial levels to promote the game in the country.
He said the officials of all provincial and federal governments relating to sports should hold a meeting for the progress of games in the country. Senators Lieutenant-General Salahuddin Tirmizi (retd), Dr Mehr Taj Roghani, Abida Muhammad Azeem, Khanzada Khan and others participated in the meeting.