Islamabad, 26 March 2025: Karachi is set to host the 35th National Games from May 1 to 9, as confirmed during a meeting led by Sindh Sports Minister Sardar Muhammad Baksh Mahar.
The event will be organized by the Sindh Olympic Association (SOA) with support from the provincial government.
Officials from various sports federations and provincial associations attended the meeting, including Pakistan Olympic Association Secretary Khalid Mahmood.
Discussions focused on finalizing preparations, reviewing administrative matters, and considering venue suggestions.
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The Sindh government assured that all arrangements for the games had been completed.
Invitations for the opening and closing ceremonies were extended to President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Additionally, the torch relay is expected to be inaugurated by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.
Mahar emphasized that the event was not just for Sindh but for the entire country, aiming to provide a platform for athletes to progress from national to international levels. He highlighted efforts to improve sports infrastructure, including plans to construct a new swimming pool. The swimming competitions will take place at the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation swimming pool.
Security arrangements, medical facilities, and media coverage have been prioritized.
Doctors, ambulances, and special hospital arrangements will be in place at all venues. Dedicated teams will handle coverage across print, electronic, and social media.
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Mahmood confirmed that all participating athletes would receive daily allowances and necessary facilities.
The games will feature 34 sports across 21 venues in Karachi, with 10,000 male and female athletes competing.
Teams from Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, along with departmental teams from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Wapda, Railways, Police, and the Higher Education Commission, will take part.
This marks the return of the National Games to Sindh after 18 years. The previous edition was held in Quetta in 2023, where the Army dominated with 199 gold medals, surpassing Wapda’s 109 golds.
