Punjab to Establish Housing Society for Sports Department Employees, Veteran Athletes

By Dr Ansab Ali
Lahore, Pakistan
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar has announced the establishment of a housing society for employees of the Punjab Sports Department and veteran athletes, as part of broader reforms aimed at promoting sports and improving athlete welfare across the province.
The announcement was made during a General Body meeting of the Sports Board Punjab held at the National Hockey Stadium on Monday, where several key policy and administrative decisions were approved.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Muhammad Ali, Director General Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Khizar Afzaal Chaudhry, MNA Shamayla Rana, MPA Ajmal Khan Chandia, Punjab Olympic Association CEO Idris Haider Khawaja, Director Sports Rana Nadeem Anjum, Director Admin Abid Shaukat, representatives of the Pakistan Wrestling Federation, Olympian Shabana Akhtar, senior sports journalist Zahid Maqsood, and officials from the Finance, Local Government and Regulation departments.
Director General Sports Punjab Khizar Afzaal Chaudhry presented a detailed briefing on ongoing projects and future plans.
Addressing the meeting, Minister Khokhar said a sports housing society would be developed on 549 kanals of land for Sports Department employees and former athletes. He added that the detailed plan would be presented at the next General Body meeting. He also revealed plans to construct Pakistan’s first Sports City on 1,500 kanals of land.
The minister announced a record increase in daily allowances, making Punjab the first province to introduce enhanced stipends for players and officials. Under the new structure, players will receive Rs2,000 per day, technical officials Rs2,500, while a local rent allowance of Rs1,000 has been introduced for the first time.
He further announced that a para-athlete, M Nadeem, would be provided with an artificial leg at a cost of Rs1 million, and assured that no employee of the Sports Board Punjab would be terminated. All sports facilities under the department will remain free for players, while hostel rates have also been reduced.
Minister Khokhar said provincial sports associations would be strengthened through increased grants, with reforms introduced to regulate their registration and funding procedures. He also announced that Sports Board Punjab’s two canteens and the former Frontier Works Organization (FWO) premises would be rented out.
An eight-member Human Resource Committee has been formed under the leadership of the Vice Chairman of the Sports Board Punjab to oversee appointments. The committee includes Punjab Olympic Association CEO Idris Haider Khawaja and other senior officials, and will be responsible for recruiting expert coaches and making key appointments.
The minister also confirmed the revival of Divisional, District and Tehsil Sports Committees after a long hiatus, with commissioners and deputy commissioners appointed as heads at divisional and district levels, respectively. He said all sports facilities in Punjab have been digitalised, with software systems now ready for implementation.
Annual sports awards will be introduced for athletes, with senior sports journalist Zahid Maqsood appointed as chairman of the awards committee.
Additionally, staff recruitment will begin for the newly constructed Punjab International Squash Complex, while sports psychologists and physiotherapists will be appointed to enhance athlete performance.
Minister Khokhar said financial affairs of all divisions would be fully digitalised to ensure transparency and accuracy. He also announced an Eid honorarium of Rs15,000 for all employees of the Punjab Sports Department and said a comprehensive media campaign would be launched ahead of every major sporting event.