Karachi all set to host 35th National Games after 18 years

After an 18-year hiatus, Karachi is set to host the 35th National Games in December, with organizers vowing to make the event a milestone in Pakistan’s sporting history.

Presiding over the first meeting of the steering committee at the Chief Minister’s House, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah directed officials to ensure the Games are held in a “befitting and memorable manner,” reflecting the city’s pride as host.

The Games will take place from December 6 to 13, bringing together athletes from across the country — including teams from all four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Islamabad, the three armed services, and four national departments.

Organizers expect participation from over 6,000 athletes, 2,800 team officials, and 1,100 technical officers, making it the largest edition in the event’s history with nearly 10,000 participants in total.

To mark the occasion, a torch rally will begin from Mazar-e-Quaid on November 14, passing through provincial headquarters and major universities before symbolically concluding in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The Sindh Sports Department has proposed “Indus Queen” as the official mascot, symbolizing the province’s cultural identity and the unity embodied by the Indus River. Prominent city landmarks such as Teen Talwar, Frere Hall, the Expo Centre, and Sea View will be illuminated and adorned with thematic displays and digital billboards in the run-up to the Games.

Competitions will be held across 24 venues in Karachi, including the Sindh Sports Board Complex, NED University, KPT Sports Complex, KMC Football Stadium, and the National Sports Training Centre. The opening and closing ceremonies will take place at the National Stadium, with the opening themed “Evolution of Sports Alongside the Indus River: The River of Life.”

The opening ceremony will celebrate Sindh’s ancient heritage and spiritual traditions through music, dance, and visual art. President Asif Ali Zardari is expected to inaugurate the Games, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend the closing ceremony.

With 61 disciplines — 32 for men and 29 for women — covering both Olympic and non-Olympic sports, the 35th National Games aim to revive Pakistan’s sporting spirit and showcase Karachi’s diversity, energy, and cultural pride on a national stage.