KARACHI: Only nine national sports federations submitted their audit reports for the year 2023-24 to Pakistan Sports Board. The PSB had written letters to NFs and asked them to submit their audit reports for the said period but only nine NFs out of 43 followed the orders.
Besides, Pakistan Tennis Federation, Pakistan Volleyball Federation, and Pakistan Bodybuilding Federation submitted only bank statements to the board. The audit reports disclosed various expenses and funds the NFs received in the said period. According to details, Pakistan Handball Federation received special grant of Rs 5 million for IHF Trophy in 2024 against Rs 2 million in 2023 for the same event.
The federation spent Rs 615,000 to organise world wheelchair handball championship in 2024 while it spent over 7 million rupees on organizing IHF Trophy in Faisalabad in 2023.
Also, the federation spent over 4 million rupees on international tournaments (participation) in 2023. At the end of the financial year 2023-24, the federation had the balance of Rs 1,14,92,970. It is to be noted that the federation faced a fine of Rs 0.5m in 2023 from Wapda.
Pakistan Taekwondo Federation had general, administrative, and event expenses of Rs 117,359,110 in 2024 against Rs 75,662,256 in 2023. The federation borne the expenses of Rs 11,438,617 for a Korean coach in 2023 while the expenses for events in 2023-24 stood at Rs 98,251,769 against Rs 60,320,166 in 2022-23.
Pakistan Netball Federation had the balance of Rs 5,240,598 at the end of June 30, 2024. The federation’s expenses for national events in 2024 stood at Rs 19,324,927 against Rs 24,577,116 in 2023. The federation’s expenses for international participations stood at Rs 9,706,380 in 2024 against Rs 10,991,792 in 2023.
Pakistan Judo Federation’s expenses for national and international events stood at Rs 6,115,893 in 2024 against Rs 14,630,428 in 2023. The federation had the balance of Rs 4,480,697 in 2024 against Rs 2,147,508 in 2023.
Pakistan Chess Federation had the balance of Rs 10,223,815 in 2024 against Rs 3,531,412 in 2023. The federation’s expenses for participation in international chess events stood at Rs 5,196,000 in 2024 against Rs 3,672,506 in 2023.
Meanwhile, the auditor mentioned that the amount shown by the federation as miscellaneous expense outlines financial irregularities involving Raja Gauhar Iqbal, who was removed as finance secretary by the inquiry committee of the federation.
“It details unauthorized fund withdrawals from CFP’s bank account, failure to present financial records despite numerous requests, and findings from an inquiry committee confirming Iqbal’s non-compliance and misappropriation of CFP funds into personal accounts.
“Iqbal was suspended on October 20, 2023 and formally removed on May 12, 2024 via letter (ref. CFPSF/1-24). The CFP is pursuing legal actions to recover the funds, while the audit preparations have been challenging due to the lack of financial documentation from Mr. Iqbal,” stated the auditor.
The auditor stressed that the exact amount that will be recovered from Raja Gauhar Iqbal cannot be estimated until the decision by the court. It is to be noted that the said miscellaneous amount in 2024 was Rs 3,518,504 and it was Rs 22,805,712 in 2023.
Pakistan Wrestling Federation had closing balance of Rs 5,136,610 at the end of June 30, 2024. The federation paid Rs 1,150,000 in terms of Olympic Scholarship payments to wrestlers. The federation’s expenses for international participations and training camps stood at Rs 17,014,780.
Pakistan Table Tennis Federation had the balance of Rs 5,404,853 at the end of June 30,2024 against Rs 1,890,653 in 2023. The federation spent Rs 205,000 on coaching courses in 2024 against Rs 500,000 in 2023 while the federation’s expenses for participation in ATT Championship in Korea were Rs 750,000 in 2024.
Pakistan Polo Association had the balance of Rs 41,694,303 at the end of June 30,2024. The association spent Rs 1,800,000 on hiring foreign professional umpires for different events. National Rifle Association of Pakistan had the balance of Rs 16,577,433 at the end of June 30,2024 against Rs 15,528,769 in 2023. The association’s expenses for international participation stood at Rs 9,878,632 in 2024 against Rs 4,067,502 in 2023 while the training expenses stood at Rs 24,270,604 in 2024 against Rs 5,962,500 in 2023.