PSB in dire straits due to lack of funds
The IPC said that the PSB is in a difficult position due to lack of funds
ISLAMABAD: The Ministry for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) has forcefully taken up the matter of delay in releasing the third quarterly installment that resulted in depriving the Pakistan Sports Board’s (PSB) employees of their salaries.
In a letter addressed to the Finance Division, the IPC said that the PSB is in a difficult position due to lack of funds.
“In line with the budget release strategy of the Finance Division, a request for release of funds for third quarter was forwarded to the Finance Division. However, the funds have yet not been released,” the letter stated.
“Due to non-release of the funds, the PSB has not paid salaries to its 437 employees for the month of January. Resultantly they are facing financial hardships and are unable to arrange even food items for their families. This state of affairs has created restlessness among the employees and today the employees have gone into an open agitation and are currently on strike.
“The situation is alarming as now the PSB is unable to make any payment in respect of salaries, wages, utilities, contractual payments, etc.”
The IPC also said that if the situation persists, all sports activities conduced by the PSB could be halted.
“The situation is deteriorating and may result in complete halt of all sports and management operations of the PSB. To avoid any unpleasant situation, I would request you to kindly look into the matter personally and make arrangements for immediate release of funds for third quarter (2022-23) to PSB so that the board may be able to pay salaries to its employees and meet other operating expenditure,” the letter said.
Under the special instructions of Minister for IPC Ehsanur Rehman Mazari, secretary IPC Ahmed Hanif Orakzai is strongly pursuing the matter to release the employees’ salaries at the earliest.
PSB was established under the Ministry of Education through the Sports (Development and Control) Ordinance, 1962 as a corporate body for the purposes of promoting and developing uniform standards of competition in sports in Pakistan comparable to the standards prevailing internationally, and regulating and controlling sports in Pakistan on a national basis.
PSB is the premier authority to control and promote sports in the country and also acts as an executing agency to implement the government policies.
PSB has a wide range of sporting facilities at its Headquarters and Coaching Centers at Provincial Headquarters. These facilities are primarily used for national training camps and holding of various national and international competitions. In addition, these facilities are also extended to general public on normal membership basis.
Comments