PSB Peshawar Center’s Halls Closed: Players Face Training Crisis

PSB Peshawar Center’s Halls Closed: Players Face Training Crisis

The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Peshawar Center has faced backlash after closing its gymnasium, squash ground, and karate hall for over a month. The closure was triggered by the PSB Islamabad’s demand for exorbitant fees,

leaving squash, badminton, and volleyball players, who previously trained in these halls, facing significant difficulties.

The halls were previously used for various sports activities, including volleyball, badminton, squash, and karate. However, the management’s demand for an entry fee of Rs 7500 led to the closure as players were unable to afford the cost. This decision has not only affected the athletes but also resulted in a decline in cleanliness and maintenance at the center.

Critics have pointed out the irony of the PSB, which claims to provide facilities to players, imposing restrictions that negatively impact the majority of athletes in the province. Additionally, the center’s allocation of Rs 2.3 million in public taxes per month for employee salaries, while the facility remains largely non-functional, has raised further concerns.

Sports enthusiasts have called on the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to intervene and transfer the PSB Peshawar Center from federal control to provincial authority.

This move would not only ensure the availability of sports facilities for local players but also empower the community to participate in sports activities at a local level.

The current situation has been deemed deplorable, highlighting the disconnect between public funding and the actual benefits for the province’s sports landscape.