close
Tuesday March 19, 2024

Govt vows transparency in Sindh Games

By Alam Zeb Safi
February 22, 2018

KARACHI: Sindh Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Dr Niaz Ali Abbasi on Wednesday pledged that the 17th Sindh Games would be corruption-free and exemplary transparency would be ensured in all financial transactions.

“Transparency will be maintained in all financial transactions. Everything is being conducted through proper tenders. Not a single penny will be paid through cash. The transactions will be made through crossed cheques,” Abbasi claimed here during a crowded press briefing.

“The amount which we are going to utilise for holding Sindh Games is public property and we want to spend it transparently,” he said.He said that he challenged everybody to come and see if there was any corruption in Sindh Games.

“This is the first time in the history of Sindh sports department that proper tenders are being invited,” he added. Abbasi also officially announced that the Games would be held at Karachi from March 28-31. “Keeping in view various national and international assignments we have finally decided that the Games would be held from March 28 to 31 at Karachi,” Abbasi said.

He was flanked by Chief Engineer Aslam Mahar, Sindh Sports Board (SSB) Director Shehzad Pervez Bhatti and Sindh Olympic Association (SOA) secretary Ahmed Ali Rajput. Abbasi said that the homework for staging the spectacle had been completed. “We have completed the homework and formed committees. I promise that the Games will be held in a graceful way,” he said.

“This time we have studied everything minutely,” he stressed.He said that business community had also been taken on board. They would also contribute to the cause which would improve the image of not only Sindh but the whole country.

Abbasi said that around 3000 athletes and officials would be part of the four-day affair.“From every division 242 men and 142 female players will be part of the showdown besides team and technical officials. Men will compete in 30 disciplines and women in 17,” the secretary said. He said boarding arrangements for the athletes would be made in good hotels located in Saddar area.

He said that 15 venues would be utilised for the Games while opening and closing ceremonies would be held at the PSB Coaching Centre.

“Musical shows and fire-works will be conducted to entertain the spectators. A skydiving show by utilising helicopters is also being planned. We are thankful to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) for the assistance it has ensured,” Abbasi said. He said that a theme song had also been composed. “We will unveil a mascot soon and the event will also carry tableaus,” the secretary said.

To a question, Abbasi said that Sindh Olympic Association (SOA) had a leading role in the exercise. “It is because of the SOA that we have been able to reach here. The SOA secretary Ahmed Ali Rajput has been part of our every meeting,” the official said.

About the presence of parallel associations in Sindh, Abbasi said it had created disharmony. “After the Sindh Games we will carry out an open surgery of the issue as we don’t want athletes to suffer because of the issue,” he promised.

Abbasi also promised that water-tight security arrangements would be made to thwart any untoward incident. “Police and Rangers will play their due role in security arrangements,” the secretary said.