Imran’s claim to provide playground at tehsil level not fulfilled

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan’s claim of providing playgrounds in all tehsils of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province has not been fulfilled despite completion of almost five years the PTI government.

According to official documents available to Jang/ The News, playgrounds have been constructed in only 50 tehsils of the province so far. KP Sports Department Assistant Director(Development) Munir Abbas said in this regard that playgrounds had been completed in 50 tehsils and work on remaining projects would be completed by June 2018.

Sources said in most cases projects were being delayed for lack of funds. At least 28 tehsils are still without playgrounds, and development work on many playgrounds was stopped due to litigation or tussle between different government departments.

Sources said in various cases playgrounds had only been renovated and credit for their construction was claimed by affixing a new plaque and inaugurating them afresh. The residents of Waliabad area in Twon – III of Peshawar said that a playground was developed in the area during Arbab Jehangir period, but the PTI government was claiming credit for it by only constructing its boundary was and renovating the ground.

There were plans to build four playgrounds in provincial capital, Peshawar, but none has been completed so far. Sources said a playground was being constructed in Mira Kichody to benefir a political figure. The land has been purchased from him, added the sources.

In Khanspur locality of Abbottabad, according to locals, a playground was already available, which is being developed as a cricket ground now. However, work on the project had not been completed so far. In Mundanz area of Bonair, land was purchased during Awami National Party (ANP) government for a playground. The PTI government has only leveled the ground and constructed its boundary wall, and remaining work is still pending, added the sources.

The PTI government has also claimed credit for old grounds in Bony and Cosht area polo ground of Chitral. Only one ground, added the sources, had been built in Saeedabad locality. Promises were made about four playgrounds in Charsadda, but only one has been developed in Shabqadar. Even the PTI government is claiming credit for Abdul Wali Khan Sports Complex.

In Lower Dir area, playgrounds were constructed during Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal government, but the PTI government was claiming credit for them by renovating them. In Sawabi areas, two playgrounds are still under construction. In tehsil Katling of Mardan district, a playground is incomplete, though in government documents, the playground is ready and people are benefiting from the facility.

However, Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak’s constituency, Niabat Nowshehra, is lucky in this regard where new playgrounds had been constructed. In Pabbi, two playgrounds had been developed, while a complex was being constructed at an existing ground.

According to official documents, new playgrounds have been built in Swat’s tehsils: Kabal, Babuzai, Barikot, Khwazakhela, and Charbagh. However, locals said the government only carried out renovation and repair of the old grounds.

In Kohat, the PTI government has claimed building seven new playgrounds. Work on one playground at Babari Banda was launched during the previous government, which has been completed now during the PTI government.