Swat, a region renowned for its natural beauty, has been longing for a different kind of landscape – a hockey ground that was initially approved in 2005 but has yet to see the light of day.

Over the past eighteen years, this much-anticipated project has encountered numerous roadblocks, leaving locals and sports enthusiasts disheartened.

The vision of a new hockey ground in Swat has remained tantalizingly elusive for over a decade and a half, with a variety of factors contributing to its protracted delay.

Sometimes, the construction work has come to a halt due to the volatile security situation in the region, while other times, it's the lack of adequate funding that has prevented any significant developments.

🏑 In 2005, plans were approved for a hockey ground in #Swat. Yet, 18 years later, it's still just a dream on paper! #SamaaTV @ShahabSamaatv #Hockey #HockeyGround pic.twitter.com/nIeYvuRXtw
— SAMAA TV (@SAMAATV) October 24, 2023

With an estimated cost of Rs160.65 million, approximately 30 to 40 percent of the work has been completed.

According to local authorities, the construction is expected to regain momentum as soon as adequate funds become available.