Accommodation fee deposited with SAG organisers

KARACHI: Finally due to timely intervention of the federal minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Dr Fehmida Mirza, the government of Pakistan deposited 81,795 US dollars under the head of accommodation fee with the organisers of the 13th South Asian Games which will be formally opened in Kathmandu on Sunday (tomorrow).

Fehmida, according to a source, disposed of the matter on the last working day of the week on Friday by contacting the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor.

A senior official of Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) also got attested invoices from the organisers which were provided to the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) on Thursday night.

The development ensured Pakistan’s contingent boarding facilities in both Kathmandu and Pokhara which are jointly hosting the biennial spectacle from December 1-10.

A 305-member state-sponsored contingent of Pakistan is set to feature in the Games in 20 disciplines if football is excluded from the list as the organisers did not grant entry to Pakistan team for sending its entry by name too late.

A few days ago Pakistan volleyball team also faced accommodation issue but POA handled the situation in Nepal and ensured that the volleyballers had accommodation on arrival in Kathmandu.

Meanwhile, a 54-member contingent comprising squads of tennis, table tennis, badminton and taekwondo along with officials and four contingent officials was scheduled to leave for Nepal on Friday night. IPC secretary Akbar Durrani is with the contingent as chef de mission.