Despite repeated government commitments to promote sports, the sector appears to have received minimal attention in the proposed federal budget for 2026-27, with only Rs1.5 billion recommended for sports-related development projects.
Budget proposals obtained by Samaa TV show that the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) has allocated limited resources for sports development, while the much-anticipated Islamabad Cricket Stadium project has been left out of the proposed budget.
According to the budget proposals, the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination has recommended allocating only Rs1.5 billion for the promotion and development of sports.
The proposed allocation has sparked concerns about the government's commitment to strengthening sports infrastructure, especially at a time when major development projects require significant funding.
Islamabad Cricket Stadium excluded
One of the most notable omissions from the proposed budget is the Islamabad Cricket Stadium project. No funding has been proposed for the project, a fact also acknowledged by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry.
Speaking on the matter, Talal Chaudhry said that funds had not yet been included for the stadium project but work would begin after the completion of three other stadiums, which is expected next year.
Only one new sports scheme proposed
The Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination has included only one new sports scheme in its budget proposals. For this new project, the ministry has recommended a funding allocation of just Rs20 million, highlighting the limited scope of fresh investment planned for the sector.
Budget documents show that Rs1.48 billion has been recommended for ongoing sports development projects. However, the allocation is significantly lower than the amount required to complete existing initiatives.
The total cost of one new scheme and 13 ongoing projects stands at Rs9.88 billion, according to the proposals.
Billions still needed for completion
Documents reveal that approximately Rs4.35 billion had already been spent on these projects by June 2026. Despite this expenditure, another Rs5.53 billion is still required to complete the ongoing projects.
However, only Rs1.5 billion has been proposed in the upcoming budget, creating a substantial funding gap.
Concerns grow over sports infrastructure development
The limited allocation has raised fears that the pace of sports infrastructure development and ongoing projects could slow further.
Officials and stakeholders are concerned that insufficient funding may affect the completion of facilities and development initiatives aimed at promoting sports at the grassroots and national levels.
With the sports sector once again placed near the bottom of federal budget priorities, questions are likely to be raised about the future of major projects and the government's broader strategy for sports development in Pakistan.
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