Islamabad, September 5, 2026: Pakistan has finalised the dates for hosting the SAF Games from April 4 to 11, 2027, with more than 6,000 athletes and officials expected to participate in the regional sporting event.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Steering Committee on preparations for the SAF Games, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Islamabad on Saturday.
In coordination with the South Asian Olympic Committee, the dates for the Games were finalised while the appointment of a National Coordinator and the composition of the Steering, Organizing and Provincial Committees were also approved.
A total of 28 sports will be contested during the Games, with events scheduled to take place in Islamabad, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Chairing the meeting, Ishaq Dar directed all concerned authorities to maintain close coordination and ensure the timely completion and readiness of sports venues and other required facilities.
He stressed the need to uphold the highest standards in preparations to ensure the successful hosting of the regional Games.
The deputy prime minister also directed the Steering Committee to meet every month to regularly monitor progress and address any issues affecting preparations.
The meeting was attended by the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Inter-Provincial Coordination, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa, Secretary Inter-Provincial Coordination, representatives of the provincial governments and senior federal and provincial officials.
The government’s preparations mark a major step towards hosting one of South Asia’s largest multi-sport events, with the participation of thousands of athletes and officials expected to provide a significant boost to Pakistan’s sporting infrastructure and regional sports engagement.
