Sindh Sports Minister Sardar Muhammad Baksh Mahar stated that the 35th National Games will take place in Karachi from May 1 to May 9. The President and Prime Minister of Pakistan will attend the opening and closing ceremonies, for which arrangements have been finalized. The games will be held across 21 venues in Karachi, featuring 34 sports and participation from 10,000 male and female athletes and officials. During the press conference, Sardar Muhammad Baksh Mahar further elaborated that teams from Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Islamabad, Azad Jammu Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan will compete in the National Games. Additionally, departmental teams from the Pakistan Army, Air Force, Navy, WAPDA, Railways, Police, and the Higher Education Commission will also participate. The event will include 2,760 athletes from provincial teams and 5,600 from departmental teams, alongside 1,200 technical officials and 132 traditional athletes.
He emphasized that the National Games are being held in Sindh after 18 years, with all logistical challenges resolved. The Olympics Committee has finalized the venues, and 21 locations in Karachi have been selected. The opening and closing ceremonies will take place at the Abdul Sattar Edhi Hockey Stadium, adhering to strict security SOPs. Regarding the Thar Jeep Rally, Sardar Muhammad Baksh Mahar announced that the event will be held in Mithi from April 10 to 13, featuring 10 categories and 60 drivers. A motorcycle category will also showcase riders’ skills. Former Provincial Minister Nadir Magsi noted that the Thar Rally was initially planned for February but postponed due to Ramadan. He highlighted that the Sindh government has organized the rally twice before, but it was canceled last year due to elections. Efforts are underway to introduce a truck category in Thar, and he stressed the need to include motor sports in the National Games.
