The Sindh government’s Sports Department has come under fire for issuing faulty cheques to athletes who secured medals at the Quaid-e-Azam Inter-Provincial Games 2024, leaving many unable to cash their prize money.
The games, held in Islamabad, saw Sindh’s athletes clinching the third position overall with 79 medals. During the closing ceremony, the government announced cash rewards of Rs100,000 for gold medalists, Rs75,000 for silver medalists, and Rs50,000 for bronze medalists. However, discrepancies in the issued cheques have left athletes and their families struggling.
Errors such as mismatches between numerical and written amounts have created confusion. For instance, one cheque displayed Rs65,000 in numbers but stated Rs50,000 in words, making it invalid for cashing.
Additionally, cheques were issued in the names of underage athletes, despite their parents having submitted all required documents to facilitate account openings. Many families are now waiting for these accounts to be operational.
Reports also revealed that the Sports Department issued cheques despite insufficient funds in its account. To avoid bounced cheques, the department placed month-long deadlines on cashing the amounts.
Abdul Aleem Lashari, Secretary of the Sports Department, acknowledged the errors and urged athletes to visit the office to resolve the issues. He explained that the third quarter’s grant had not yet been released, which caused delays. “To prevent athletes from facing difficulties due to bounced cheques, we’ve given them a month to cash the amount,” he stated.
While the department claims to be working on corrections, the situation has drawn criticism, with calls for better planning and accountability to ensure athletes receive their well-deserved rewards without hurdles.
