For children turning neighborhood streets into cricket grounds, students seeking affordable sports facilities and young athletes striving to develop their talent, the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) planned Rs952 million multi-sport arenas could open new avenues for recreation, training and competition across Islamabad.
The projects reflect the authority’s efforts to expand the capital’s sports infrastructure and bring modern recreational facilities closer to residents.
By developing complexes at three locations, the CDA aims to create more opportunities for people to participate in sports, pursue healthy lifestyles and develop their athletic potential.
The authority plans to establish multi-sport complexes in D-12/1, G-11/3 Markaz and F-8 Markaz. The proposed facilities include indoor swimming pools, gyms, futsal courts, cricket practice cages, padel courts, basketball facilities and multipurpose sports halls, offering a range of activities for sports enthusiasts and aspiring athletes.
The projects could also reduce the need for residents to travel across the city in search of suitable venues. For families, students and amateur players, access to facilities within their communities could make regular participation in sports more convenient.
A CDA spokesperson told APP that operational arrangements would be finalized after construction was completed and the facilities became operational. The authority has yet to announce the fee structure, concessions for students and registered sports clubs, or whether the complexes would be managed directly or through private operators.
These arrangements will be important in determining how residents use the facilities and how effectively the investment supports grassroots sports.
Affordable memberships, transparent booking procedures and designated training sessions could help attract a wider range of users.
Existing facilities illustrate the range of costs involved in organized sports. Membership packages at the Pakistan Sports Complex, operated by the Pakistan Sports Board, have included registration charges ranging from Rs5,000 to Rs30,000 and monthly fees of Rs1,500 to Rs5,000, depending on the sport and package.
Commercial padel courts have reportedly charged around Rs2,000 an hour, while booking charges for some CDA-managed cricket grounds have reached approximately Rs15,000 a day for matches.
These rates vary by venue and booking category and do not indicate what the new complexes will charge. The proposed arenas will have their own operational requirements, including staffing, maintenance, utilities and safety arrangements, which will influence their long-term management. A sports club owner, speaking on condition of anonymity said the new facilities could provide valuable training opportunities for local clubs if booking charges remained manageable. “New multi-sport arenas sound good on paper, but if they end up with high membership or hourly rates, grassroots clubs will still be locked out,” the owner said, calling for subsidized training slots for registered clubs and youth academies.
The proposed complexes could also widen opportunities for girls and women to participate in physical activity. Convenient timings, reasonable fees, suitable facilities and effective safety arrangements would help make regular sports participation more accessible.
A female student said affordable facilities could encourage more girls to take part in sports, provided the venues offered convenient timings and a safe environment.
“Many girls would like to take part in sports, but access to suitable facilities, the cost of regular sessions and family commitments can become barriers. If these arenas offer affordable rates, convenient timings and appropriate facilities for women, more girls could benefit,” she said.