PESHAWAR (Khyber Mail): The grand opening ceremony of the Pakhtunkhwa Games 2025 was officially inaugurated by Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur. The event, held with much fanfare, saw the participation of 2,500 players competing in 16 events for men and 12 for women.
The ceremony was attended by Provincial Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Syed Fakhar Jihan, members of the National and Provincial Assemblies, Secretary of Sports Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, and Director General of Sports Abdul Nasir Khan. The opening ceremony featured a spectacular fireworks display and traditional regional dances that highlighted the cultural diversity of the province.
Teams representing seven regions of the province participated in a march-past, with the Chief Minister taking the salute. The games, which will continue until February 23, feature 16 sports for men, including athletics, football, hockey, volleyball, basketball, karate, taekwondo, boxing, squash, table tennis, badminton, gymnastics, throw ball, judo, handball, and wushu. The women’s competitions include athletics, hockey, cricket, volleyball, basketball, karate, taekwondo, judo, netball, squash, table tennis, and badminton. The events will be held in Peshawar, Charsadda, and Kohat.
Addressing the ceremony, Provincial Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Syed Fakhar Jehan expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur for his support in organizing the event, aligning with the vision of founding chairman Imran Khan. He announced that winners of team and individual competitions in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Games would receive a monthly stipend of PKR 25,000.
The Provincial Minister highlighted that in just one year, the provincial government has organized more sports events in the province than any other region in the country, marking a significant achievement. He credited the successful organization of these games to Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur’s dedication to sports development and praised the efforts of the Department of Sports and its team for their excellent arrangements.
He assured that the province will continue to host various sports events, with the next major event scheduled to be held in Dera Jat, along with the introduction of Polo Games in the province. Additionally, he announced that the Arbab Niaz Stadium is set to be revitalized soon, hosting PSL matches, including efforts to bring Peshawar Zalmi’s matches to the stadium. The government is also working towards bringing international cricket back to the region.
During the ceremony, the Provincial Minister for Sports presented a shield to the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.