35th National Games to be made historic, unforgettable: Murad

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, presiding over the first steering committee meeting of the 35th National Games 2025 on Monday, directed the authorities concerned to make the upcoming event historic and unforgettable, reflecting Karachi’s pride as the host city after a long gap of 18 years.

“Karachi has the honour to host the National Games after nearly two decades; therefore, it must be organised in a befitting and memorable manner,” he said while chairing the meeting held at the CM House.

The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, chief secretary, Sindh IGP, secretaries of various departments, sports officials, president of the Pakistan Olympic Association and other officials.

The 35th National Games 2025 will be held in Karachi from December 6 to 13, marking the return of Pakistan’s premier multi-sport event to the metropolis after nearly two decades. The city first hosted the National Games in 1948 -- the same year the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) was founded. Since then, the games have been hosted ten times in Lahore, eight times in Karachi, seven times in Peshawar, four times each in Dhaka and Quetta, and once in Sahiwal and Faisalabad.

This year’s event promises to be the largest ever, with participation from four provinces, Jammu & Kashmir, Islamabad, three services teams, and four departments. Over 6,000 athletes, 2,800 team officials, and 1,100 technical officials are expected to take part, bringing the total strength close to 10,000 participants.

The games will feature 32 male and 29 female disciplines, including 25 Olympic sports and seven non-Olympic ones. A total of 24 venues across Karachi have been selected by the joint organising committee, including the Sindh Sports Board Complex in Nazimabad, NED University, KPT Sports Complex, KMC Football Stadium, Defence Authority Country & Golf Club, Habib Public School, National Sports Training & Coaching Centre, and the Karachi Boat Club, among others.

The opening and closing ceremonies will be held at the National Cricket Stadium, with the opening scheduled for December 6 and the closing for December 13. The Sports Department has proposed “Indus Queen” as the official mascot of the games - symbolising the cultural and historical identity of Sindh and the spirit of unity that flows through the Indus River, the CM was told.

To create excitement and beautify the city, major landmarks and intersections - including Teen Talwar, Numaish Chowrangi, Metropole, Expo Centre, Frere Hall, National Stadium Roundabout, and Sea View - will be illuminated and decorated with big screens, mascots, and thematic hoardings celebrating the games.

The CM directed the Sports department to organise a Torch Relay on November 14, beginning from the Mazar-e-Quaid, passing through provincial headquarters and universities, extending to the federal capital, and symbolically continuing to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.