National Games confirmed to take place in December this year

Sindh’s government on Friday officially announced that the 35th National Games will be conducted at Karachi from December 6-13, 2025 after taking input from the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA).

A delegation of Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) and Sindh Olympic Association (SOA) the other day held meeting with the Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah. The POA in that meeting gave its input and agreement about the schedule which was mutually agreed on. However, it was decided that since the Games had been postponed by the Sindh government so its new dates would also be unveiled by the Sindh’s government.

The Games, which were scheduled for May 1-9 in Karachi earlier, had been postponed on April 17 due to hot weather.

“Yes, the dates have been announced by the Sindh government. Around seven-month time is enough and we will prepare accordingly. The things had already been done previously too but due to unavoidable circumstances the Games had been postponed,” a source in the organizing committee of the Games told Nukta.

This will be after long 18 years that Sindh will be hosting the country’s major extravaganza.

Pakistan’s Islamic Games journey will also end on November 21 and there will be enough time for the athletes and federations to shift their sole focus towards the biennial spectacle.

Pakistan also plans to host the South Asian Games in the start of next year and if it happens then the National Games in December will provide a good opportunity for the athletes to prepare for that major regional event as well.

In 2019, too, National Games had been conducted in Peshawar just days before the South Asian Games in Nepal.

For National Games departments hold their camps quite early and its normally too good for the country’s leading athletes who also go for national duty.

December will be an ideal month for Karachi to host the Games.

In 2007 Karachi had last hosted National Games in simmering heat when Qamar Mansoor was the Sindh Sports Minister. But now holding Games in December will also enable the organizers to manage the event in comparatively less amount as some of the expenses relating to water and consumption may be saved.