FAO secretary says govt is not taking interest in the project By Ashfaq YusufzaiPESHAWAR: Differences among Fata parliamentarians and lack of government`s interest are hampering construction of the first-ever sports complex in tribal areas, according to sources.

The setting up of Fata sports complex was approved by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor in July last year.

`It has been decided to build the sports complex in Shahkas area of Khyber Agency near Hayatabad, Peshawar where players from all tribal agencies and frontier regions can play. But differences among the parliamentarians has delayed its construction,` said Shahid Shinwari, secretary of Fata Olympic Association (FOA).

He said that government didn`t show any progress to acquire 500-kanal piece of land for the complex since its approval. The parliamentarians opposed construction of the complex because each of the 20 MNAs and senators wanted that it should be set up in his respective area, he said.

`Technically, Shahkas is feasible due to its proximity to Peshawar. It is also accessible equally to all tribal areas,` he said.

Mr Shinwari said that delay in construction of the complex affectedsports activities in Fata. Not only parliamentarians but the government`s response was also lackluster, he added.

`We desperately need sports to engage youth in healthy activities and save them from terrorism. Potential for sports in Fata is evident from the performance of its players at the national and international level. We have been competing with other provinces and departments that get huge funds for sports. Despite nonavailability of funds, we are taking part in all 42 national games,` Mr Shinwari said.

He said that they sponsored the visit of Nazia Parveen, a female climber from Bajaur Agency, two months ago. `We won four gold medals in women Judo national championship a month ago. Not that but we also won basketball and athletics national championships despite shortage of equipment, facilities and training,` he said.

Women players from Kurram, Bajaur, and FR Lakki Marwat have shown excellent performance at national level.

Since affiliation with Pakistan Olympic Association, they had been able to establish cricket academies in Bajaur, South Waziristan and Khyber agencies in view of public interest there, Mr Shinwari said.

He said that they also organised football, hockey, judo, volleyball, table tennis and badminton tournaments for Fata players in Peshawar.

`The Fata youth are sports crazy but they require facilities. We get ground and hostel facilities for our players from the provincial sports directorate. Fata Secretariat, which issupposed to promote games in tribal areas, doesn`t pay any attention to it,` Mr Shahid said.

According to him, Fata players Usman Shinwari and Riaz Afridi while Yasir Afridi and Atig Shinwari were national level players of cricket and football.

Mr Shinwari said that government had pledged to spend Rs1 billion on the complex and complete it within two years with all international standard facilities available there but nothing had taken place.

`Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Shaukatullah Khan, who is also founding president of Fata Olympic Association, has issued directives regarding setting up the complex and promotion of sports in Fata but the relevant officials consigned the same to the dustbin because promotion of sports isn`t their priority,` he said.

Mr Shinwari said that the idea behind promotion of sports and construction of sports complex in Fata was to present sports as an alternative for terrorism and violence.

`Local youth are naturally strong and physically fit to play games,` he said.

Mr Shinwari said that Rs100 million had also been released in the Annual Development Programme but the amount was about to lapse as there seemed no progress on the complex.

`The responsibility for the delay lies with public representatives as well as Fata Secretariat. The delay has also been wasting our hard work, we have done regarding promotion of sports in Fata since establishment of Olympic Association in September 2011,` Mr Shinwari said.