PSB rejects plan to hold tent-pegging at Jinnah Stadium

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has turned down a proposal by the Ministry of Interior to organise Tent Pegging and Horse & Cattle show here at the Jinnah Stadium, saying that the venue is solely meant for Olympic/Asian Games sports as the traditional ventures would prove to be disastrous for the state-of-the-art facility.

In a letter addressed to the Deputy Commissioner Islamabad, the PSB Deputy Director General said that recent visit of the ministry high-ups to the Jinnah Stadium revealed that tent pegging and horse and cattle show is being planned at the Jinnah Stadium. Since the venue is a FIFA-approved facility for international football matches and hosts international track and field events, planning traditional festivities at the stadium would not be appropriate.

Jinnah Stadium has already hosted two South Asian Games besides other international track and field as well as football events. Any attempt to use the facility for any other purpose would render it useless for international events. With the 14th South Asian Games around the corner, such a misadventure would be dangerous for Pakistan’s chances of hosting mega Games in a befitting manner.

The letter addressed to DC Islamabad (available with The News), the DDG, who also talked to The News, contemplated that it was pertinent to clear the ambiguity if there was any.

The letter by Syed Naveedur Rehman says: “It has come to our attention that the honourable Interior Minister visited Jinnah Stadium at the Pakistan Sports Complex on February 10, 2025. Although the official purpose of the visit was not communicated, it appears that a tent pegging event/horse & cattle show is being considered at the venue. Later that evening, officials from the district administration visited the stadium and informed PSB’s security staff that necessary alterations could be made to the stadium if required.

In this regard, it is crucial to bring on record that Jinnah Stadium is a state-of-the-art, FIFA-approved facility specifically designed to host international football matches and athletic events. The athletic track, laid to meet international standards, has been developed with huge government’s funds. Allowing a tent-pegging event in this stadium will cause irreversible damage to the athletic track and the stadium’s infrastructure. The sharp metal pegs and the horses’ hooves will severely damage the track surface, rendering it unsuitable for future athletic competitions. More importantly, this damage will jeopardize Pakistan’s ability to host the upcoming South Asian Games (SAF Games), scheduled for later this year or early next year.

Any deterioration in the stadium’s condition could lead to the disqualification of the venue for international events, tarnishing Pakistan’s reputation on the global stage and resulting in financial losses due to required repairs and potential penalties. We would also like to highlight that a suitable alternative venue for tent pegging already exists at the Polo Ground in Islamabad Club. This purpose-built facility is specifically designed to accommodate equestrian events like tent pegging without risking damage to facilities meant for international sports competitions.