A meeting of the Steering Committee for the preparations of the XIV South Asian Federation (SAF) Games 2027 was held under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar. During the meeting, it was decided, in collaboration with the South Asian Olympic Committee, that the SAF Games 2027 will be held from April 4 to 11, 2027.
The meeting also approved the appointment of a National Coordinator for the SAF Games, as well as the formation of steering, organising, and provincial committees. A total of 28 sports competitions will be held during the games, with more than 6,000 athletes and officials expected to participate.
According to the announcement, the SAF Games competitions will be held in Islamabad, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar directed the relevant authorities to ensure close coordination among all institutions and to complete preparations for the sports venues within the stipulated timeframe.
He also stressed the need to maintain the highest standards to ensure the successful organisation of the competitions. Ishaq Dar directed the Steering Committee to hold monthly meetings to review progress and ensure that all preparations are completed on time.
The meeting was attended by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Inter-Provincial Coordination Tariq Bajwa, the Secretary of Inter-Provincial Coordination, representatives of the provincial governments, and senior officials from the federal and provincial governments.
It is worth mentioning here that the 1989 South Asian Games, officially known as the IV South Asian Federation (SAF) Games, were held in Islamabad, Pakistan, from October 20 to 28, 1989. The event marked a historic milestone for Pakistan as it hosted the regional multi-sport competition for the first time. Athletes from seven South Asian countries participated in the games, competing across various sporting disciplines in what was a significant gathering of the region’s sporting talent.