KARACHI: The 35th National Games Event officially commenced in Karachi on Saturday, 6 December 2025.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was the chief guest and officially declared the Games open.
These Games bring the nation’s premier multi-sport competition back to Sindh for the first time in 18 years, he said.
Thousands of audience members, officials, and athletes attended the opening ceremony at the iconic National Stadium (also referred to as National Bank Sta).
The ceremony included a spectacular display of culture, music, and fireworks.
A climax of the evening was the lighting of the Olympic vessel by Paris Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem.
Alongside other notable Olympians, in a gesture that symbolised the passing of the torch to a new generation.
Unity and Scale of the Event
The Games, which chain until 13 December, comprise over 11,000 athletes and officials from across Pakistan, indicating all provinces and major institutional commissions like the Army, Navy, and WAPDA.
They will compete in approximately 32 different sports across 26 venues throughout Karachi. Provincial leaders, including the Sindh Chief Minister, Murad Ali Shah.
He welcomed the participants, emphasising that the mega-event represents the unity and diversity of all provinces.
The government stressed its commitment to empowering the youth through sports and endorsing growth.
One of the main National Games in history will notably feature a momentous relay of female athletes.
Sindh put in a huge amount of work to host nearly 11,000 guests, showing its determination to put on a world-class event for the athletes.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to grace the closing ceremony on 13 December, which will conclude an extraordinary week of national sporting competition.
Organizers have set this to be one of the main National Games in history, notably featuring a momentous relay of female athletes.
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