Web Desk: The Punjab government approved a new housing colony for sports department employees on Wednesday, marking a significant expansion of residential relief measures for provincial civil servants.
Provincial Minister for Sports Faisal Ayub Khokhar chaired a General Body meeting of the Punjab Sports Board where officials finalized several development projects. During the session, the minister emphasized the necessity of strengthening transparency and accountability mechanisms to ensure the effective delivery of these public initiatives.
Residential Relief and Infrastructure Expansion
The primary highlight of the meeting involved the formal approval of a dedicated housing colony for the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs. This move follows a series of recent government efforts to provide affordable housing solutions to public sector workers across the province.
In addition to residential infrastructure, the board approved the establishment of swimming pools at all divisional headquarters. To encourage public participation, authorities also decided to reduce swimming registration fees by 50 percent.
This reduction aims to make sports facilities more accessible to a broader segment of the population.
Modernization and Academic Initiatives
The Punjab government also moved toward the digitalization of sports administration by approving the setup of a modern control room. Under this new plan, authorities will monitor all sports complexes across the province via a centralized camera system to ensure safety and maintenance standards.
Furthermore, the meeting participants reached a consensus on the establishment of the University of Sports Sciences Punjab.
This academic institution will focus on developing professional expertise in sports management and physical education, providing a structured career path for athletes and administrators alike.
Administrative Reforms and Outsourcing
To improve operational efficiency, Minister Khokhar introduced a merit-based system of rewards and penalties. Under this policy, high-performing officers will receive formal recognition and prizes, while those with poor performance records will face demotions.
The board also finalized the annual sports calendar and reached a strategic decision to outsource various sports facilities throughout Punjab. To ensure financial integrity, officials ordered a comprehensive income audit of all divisional and district headquarters.
Consequently, these reforms are expected to streamline the department’s revenue streams and enhance the quality of sports infrastructure across the province.
Read more: PM to embark on a four-day visit to Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Qatar
