Muhammad Irshad Ullah
PESHAWAR: A report submitted by the District Sports Office (DSO) Upper Chitral to the authorities concerned for the fiscal year 2023-24 has come under scrutiny for multiple discrepancies.
These include misdated events, unexplained expenses, and what appears to be premature spending on events yet to take place, according to the report available with ChitralToday.
The findings have raised serious concerns regarding transparency and accountability in the allocation of public funds meant for sports development.
One of the most glaring anomalies is the inclusion of the Istaru Sports Gala, scheduled for July 15–20, 2025, in the report for 2023–24. Despite the event still being over a year away, the DSO claims that Rs60,000 has already been spent.
Similarly, several other events listed for April and May 2024, including the Zayit cricket tournament and Bolan Lasht tournament, are shown as funded from a budget that officially ends in June 2024. This chronological mismatch has sparked calls for an audit.
The report also claims that a veteran football tournament was held in Peshawar with a cost of Rs99,000. However, no dates or documentation are provided. Moreover, critics argue that such an event falls outside the DSO Upper Chitral’s jurisdiction, as Peshawar has its own District Sports Office and separate financial allocations.
A further breakdown of the report shows disproportionate allocation of funds. Polo events such as the Azadi Cup, District Football Tournament, and Jashn-e-Khazan polo each received Rs300,000, while numerous cricket and football tournaments were allocated between Rs20,000 and Rs50,000.
The apparent bias toward certain sports has also prompted questions regarding fairness in funding.
The report also includes a whopping Rs2 million expenditure on the Broghil festival, accounting for 37% of the total sports budget. The justification for such a large amount remains unclear with critics pointing to a lack of transparency and supporting documentation.
According to the report, Rs900,000 was spent on distributing sports kits throughout the year. However, the DSO failed to provide lists, images, or any verification of which teams, institutions, or athletes received the equipment.
Notably, events listed in the report begin as early as March 2023 and continue through September, only to resume again from May 2024 to April, bypassing the official fiscal calendar, which runs from July to June.
The DSO report details the total sports budget for 2023–24 as Rs5.45 million, including Rs413,000 for travel and transportation and Rs634,000 for utility bills.
This allocation has sparked criticism, with observers questioning why such a significant portion of the budget is being spent on non-sporting expenses rather than actual grassroots development.
The inconsistencies and premature expenditures detailed in the report have led to growing demands for an independent audit of the DSO Upper Chitral. Critics argue that public funds must be used judiciously and transparently, and that fabricated or unverified events undermine the very purpose of state-sponsored sports programs.
As the controversy unfolds, stakeholders are urging authorities to hold those responsible accountable and ensure that taxpayer money truly serves the purpose of promoting sports in the region.
