Taimoor Khan
A story of poor planning, ignored warnings, and political pressure unfolds as millions are sunk iterally into a controversial sports project.
Despite internal objections and technical concerns, the caretaker government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa approved a Rs193 million sports complex project right in the middle of a riverbed in Batakra, Topi (Swabi district). Construction officially began in 2023, even though government planning bodies raised red flags about the feasibility and location of the project.
Documents reveal that the Sports Department initiated the complex spanning 200 kanals without completing essential environmental checks, such as soil testing and flood history reports, which were required by the Planning & Development Department. The project was originally approved by the DDWP on December 16, 2022, with a scheduled completion date of June 30, 2024 still unmet.
Shockingly, the Irrigation Department issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC), claiming the site was not in the riverbed—contradicting multiple expert concerns and local observations. The NOC paved the way for groundbreaking, despite opposition from within the Sports Department itself.
According to sources, key figures in the Sports Directorate opposed the project at the time, citing serious feasibility issues. However, political pressure and administrative maneuvering overpowered their concerns. The sources allege that several officials supported the project in hopes of securing better postings.
The design includes an administrative block, guard room, and grounds for cricket, football, hockey, basketball, volleyball, and tennis. Infrastructure such as boundary walls, internal roads, a sewage system, and footpaths were also part of the plan.
Now, with flood risk looming large and the site’s location raising alarm, experts warn that the entire complex could be washed away in the event of high water—turning the multi-crore investment into a disaster waiting to happen.
When contacted for comment, the current Secretary of Sports declined to offer a statement.
This incident adds to growing concerns over government oversight, planning failures, and the politicization of development projects in the province.
