Journalists from Peshawar covering local matches in Rawalpindi say they have been denied access to the Pakistan Sports Board hostel for two days, leaving many without proper accommodation and disrupting sports reporting on the ground. The lack of a reliable place to stay has strained their ability to file timely stories and attend late fixtures.
Those affected identified the hostel in-charge, Nasrullah, as the person who has been avoiding provision of rooms, a situation the reporters described as regrettable given the vital role journalists play in promoting and covering sports. Reporters emphasized that consistent administrative support, including basic hostel facility, is essential for uninterrupted coverage of tournaments and local events.
Arif Khan, Secretary of Rawalpindi Islamabad Sports Journalists and an executive member of the Pakistan Sports Federation, attempted to raise the issue with DG Sports Board Yasir Pirzada, but says he was refused a meeting. Journalists have now formally demanded immediate intervention from Rana Sanaullah and the DG of the Pakistan Sports Board to secure accommodation so match coverage is not further hampered.
The incident has prompted calls for accountability and clearer policies to ensure visiting media receive necessary support. Journalists said they routinely sacrifice personal comforts to report on sports, and failing to provide even basic hostel facility undermines both their work and efforts to promote sports at the grassroots level.
