Book a Ground or Court at Nishtar Park Sports Complex, Lahore: Rates and Steps
Book a ground, court, track or pool at Nishtar Park Sports Complex Lahore: who to write to, the 2024 hire rates, the Rs 5,000 deposit and who plays free. Steps.
To book a ground, court, track or pool at Nishtar Park Sports Complex in Lahore, you write to the Director General Sports Punjab at least 10 working days before your date, pay a refundable Rs 5,000 security fee, and pay the hire charge in advance into the Sports Board Punjab bank account. The rates come from a Sports Board Punjab notification in force since 1 February 2024.
We read that notification in full. It is an 11 page scanned order dated 25 January 2024, and it is still the rate list the Sports Board links from its own website on 2 October 2026. It covers the National Hockey Stadium turfs, Punjab Stadium's athletics track and football ground, the Indoor Gymnasium, the Punjab International Tennis Stadium, the Punjab International Swimming Complex, the players' hostels and Iqbal Park Sports Complex.
One line in the order matters more than any rate. A sports club registered with its Tehsil Sports Officer pays nothing for matches, training or a full day on most of these facilities. An unregistered club pays the full rate.
Nishtar Park facilities are booked through the Director General Sports Punjab
Bookings are not made at a counter on the day. The Sports Board Punjab reservation policy says requests go to the Director General Sports Punjab, and the Board replies about availability within three working days. Book at least 10 working days ahead.
The Sports Board's head office is at the National Hockey Stadium, Ferozepur Road, Lahore. Its contact page lists 042 99232518 and 042 99230662, and its toll free helpline for information and complaints is 0800 80001.
The homepage also links an "online booking" address on a facilities subdomain. When we tried it on 2 October 2026, the domain did not resolve at all, so plan on a written request instead.
Hire rates depend on who is booking, not only on the facility
The 2024 notification sorts every user into a category, from national federations to private companies. A public school pays far less than a private one. A club registered with its Tehsil Sports Officer pays nothing for most ground and court use.
These are sample rates for a few common bookings, read from the notification. All figures are in rupees.
| Facility | Registered club | Unregistered club or academy | Public school | Private school |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hockey turf, per match | Free | 5,000 | 5,000 | 10,000 |
| Football ground, per match | Free | 5,000 | 5,000 | 20,000 |
| Athletics track, per hour | Free | 7,000 | 2,000 | 10,000 |
| Indoor gym court, per hour | Free | 1,000 | 1,000 | 3,000 |
| Tennis court, per hour | Free | 3,000 | 2,000 | 5,000 |
Floodlights cost extra for everyone, including registered clubs. On the hockey turf they are Rs 15,000 an hour. On the athletics track and football ground they are charged per day, from Rs 10,000 for registered clubs and public institutions to Rs 50,000 for private users. "Per day" means 9 am to 4 pm.
Iqbal Park Sports Complex is the cheap option for cricket. Its cricket pitches cost Rs 2,000 per pitch per month, and its open ground is Rs 25,000 a day.
Individuals join through a monthly membership
A single player does not book a whole facility. You buy a membership for that venue instead. Most memberships have a one-time registration fee and a monthly fee, and government employees get 50% off membership fees under the same notification.
- Athletics track or football ground: Rs 1,000 registration, then Rs 500 a month for an individual.
- Punjab Stadium cricket pitches: Rs 3,000 registration, then Rs 500 a month.
- Indoor Gymnasium: Rs 4,000 registration and Rs 2,000 a month per sport. Students of public institutions pay Rs 500 and Rs 500.
- Tennis: Rs 5,000 registration, then Rs 3,000 a month without lights or Rs 9,000 with lights.
- Swimming complex: the general public membership is Rs 200,000 to register and Rs 5,000 a month. A summer seasonal membership is Rs 10,000 plus Rs 15,000.
One rule surprises people. The notification says jogging and walking on the athletics track are not allowed. The track is kept for athletes.
How to book a ground or court step by step
The process is a written request, a confirmation, then advance payment by bank. Start at least 10 working days before the date. Keep a copy of the confirmed reservation with you on the day, because the policy requires the organiser to carry it.
- Pick the facility and the time. Note the date, start time, hours and whether you need floodlights or a generator.
- Write to the Director General Sports Punjab. Name your organisation, its category and the person responsible. That person must be allowed to make financial commitments for the group.
- Attach proof of category. A registered club should attach its Tehsil Sports Officer registration. A school should use its letterhead.
- Wait for the reply. The Board says it answers within three working days.
- Pay before the event. Deposit the hire charge into the Sports Board Punjab bank account. The notification says cash is not accepted, except for the security fee.
- Pay the Rs 5,000 security fee. It goes to the administrator or manager of the facility and is refundable.
- Cancel in writing if plans change. Give at least two working days' notice, or you may pay any set up cost.
Registering your club is the cheapest way to play
Most of the savings in the rate list go to clubs registered with the local Tehsil Sports Officer. For a team that plays every week, registration can turn a Rs 5,000 match fee into nothing. Floodlights and generators still cost extra.
To register a sports club in Punjab, you go through your Tehsil Sports Officer with a one page form, a player list and a constitution based on the Board's model.
Young players who only want coaching have another route. The Board's cricket academies are free, and you can join a Sports Board Punjab cricket academy after a trial with the coaches. Older players with a strong competition record can also try for a sports quota seat at Punjab University, where club certificates count.
Rules that can cost you the booking or the deposit
The notification lists 33 terms. Most are common sense, but a few carry money. Damage is charged at full value, the Board can refuse or cancel any booking, and anyone breaking the code of conduct can be removed without a refund.
- Weapons, drugs and glass bottles are banned in the facilities.
- Food and drinks are allowed only in reception areas and the cafeteria.
- Political, sectarian or unethical activity, banners and slogans are not allowed.
- The players' hostels are only for players, coaches and technical officials.
- Commercial shoots and marketing agencies pay Rs 200,000 a day per facility.
- Rates are to be reviewed every year, so confirm the figure when you write in.
Children from madrasas registered with the Home Department use the facilities free, and national or international medallists in the sport also play free. Free use by federations and associations covers only the championships listed in their annual sports calendar.
Common questions
Can I book a Nishtar Park ground online?
Not reliably. The Sports Board homepage links an online booking address, but the domain did not resolve when we tried it on 2 October 2026. Send a written request to the Director General Sports Punjab.
How early should I book?
At least 10 working days before the event. The Board says it confirms availability within three working days of your request.
Is there a security deposit?
Yes. A refundable Rs 5,000 security fee goes with each booking request, paid to the facility's administrator or manager.
Can I pay in cash?
Only the security fee. The notification says all other fees go into the Sports Board Punjab bank account.
Can I go jogging on the Punjab Stadium track?
No. The 2024 notification says jogging and walking on the athletics track are not allowed. It is kept for athletes.
Does a registered club pay for floodlights?
Yes. Ground use is free for a registered club, but floodlights are charged. On the hockey turf they cost Rs 15,000 an hour.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 2 October 2026. We read the Sports Board Punjab reservation policy and its 11 page facilities rate notification dated 25 January 2024, in force from 1 February 2024, both linked from the Board's Facilities menu. Every rate above is read from that scanned notification. The contact numbers come from the Board's contact and helpline pages. We tried the online booking link on the homepage, and its domain did not resolve. The Board has not posted a newer rate list, but the notification says rates are reviewed every year, so confirm the current figure when you write in.
About the author
Senior Writer, Public Services and Technology
Shahid joined us in 2024 as an author. He is a senior contributor to Pakistan's leading technology websites. He writes detailed articles, mostly covering his expertise in the latest tech, mobiles, apps, gadgets, and step-by-step guides. His ideology is to help people understand the latest trends and explain complex methods through very easy-to-understand guides.
