Seven-year delay in Arbab Niaz Stadium upgradation project

PESHAWAR: The long-awaited project to upgrade the Arbab Niaz International Cricket Stadium in Peshawar has faced significant delays and cost overruns, attributed to poor planning and strategy by various departments and institutions under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.

Originally slated for completion within 27 months, the project remains unfinished seven years later, with its costs ballooning to Rs 2 billion and likely to increase further.

PSL 2025: Stadium in Peshawar being prepared with Rs 1.94b budget

Sources indicate that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government approved the upgradation of Arbab Niaz Stadium in September 2017, with an initial estimated cost of Rs 1,377 million. Despite the ambitious timeline, the project has encountered numerous setbacks, including funding shortages and project scope revisions. The cost was subsequently revised to Rs 1,946 million, reflecting these adjustments.

Insiders reveal that the current expenditure on the project has surged to Rs 2 billion. Additionally, a new Project Concept-1 (PC-1) proposal worth Rs 700 million has been prepared to install international-standard floodlights in the stadium, modelled after those in Australia and Dubai. This new addition will escalate the total project cost to Rs 2.66 billion.

Syed Fakhar Jahan, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sports and Youth Affairs, has announced that the Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium Upgradation Project is now expected to be completed by March 2025.

ICC concedes New York stadium issues ahead of Pak-India clash

He highlighted plans to install international-standard floodlights, suggesting that an international tender be conducted for their procurement. A dedicated fund of Rs 450 million has been allocated in the Annual Development Programme (ADP) of the new financial year for this purpose, as part of the total expenditure on floodlights estimated at Rs 700 million.

The continued delays and cost increases have drawn public scrutiny and raised questions about the project management practices within the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.