QUETTA: Despite billions of rupees allocated in development budgets and repeated government pledges, young people in Quetta still lack access to modern sports facilities.
A key project approved under Pakistan’s Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for 2020–21 aimed to establish modern sports complexes across Balochistan. Authorities set the total cost at Rs1.31 billion ($4.6 million) and allocated Rs100 million in the initial phase.
The plan called for the construction of six modern stadiums in different parts of Quetta, including Sariab Road and Kuchlak, modeled after Ayub Stadium. Years after approval, however, officials have made little visible progress.
One of the main projects was a sports complex on land owned by Radio Pakistan on Sariab Road. Official documents show authorities allocated more than Rs1 billion for the project, but they have so far spent only Rs25 million. The slow pace has raised questions about planning and oversight.
The provincial government earmarked another Rs300 million for the project in the 2025–26 budget. Yet construction activity on the ground remains minimal, fueling frustration among local youth.
Speaking to local media, Balochistan Sports Secretary Durrah Baloch said the government had selected Radio Pakistan’s land for the Sariab Road complex. Employees of Radio Pakistan later filed a court case, and the court issued a stay order that halted the project.
He said the provincial government now plans to build a new sports complex in the Nokili area. Another complex is under development in cooperation with authorities in the Defense Housing Authority (DHA).
Analysts say the delays reflect more than administrative hurdles. They argue the problem stems from policy-level neglect. Sports facilities, they say, play a critical role in engaging youth in positive activities and steering them away from negative influences.
If authorities had completed the complexes on time, analysts say, they could have nurtured local talent and enabled athletes from Balochistan to compete at national and international levels. Instead, many young people continue to rely on poorly maintained grounds and informal street spaces.
Economic experts say failure to complete projects despite allocated funds highlights governance weaknesses and weak monitoring. They argue that transparent and efficient use of development funds could promote sports while also boosting the local economy and social stability.
Also Read: Former Cricket Captains Also Seek NRO for Imran Khan
Civic groups have urged the government to expedite completion of the sports complexes. They say modern facilities are essential to promote sports and create constructive opportunities for youth in the province.
