Pak-China Friendship Games get underway in Lahore

The Pak-China Friendship Games 2026 got underway in Lahore on Thursday with a colourful opening ceremony attended by Punjab Sports Minister Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar and Chinese Consul General in Lahore Sun Yan, who jointly inaugurated the four-day event celebrating 75 years of Pakistan-China friendship. The ceremony was held at the Gymnasium Hall of Nishtar Park Sports Complex, where the two dignitaries unveiled the Games trophy, while Khokhar administered the oath to participating athletes. More than 2,000 male and female athletes from across Pakistan are taking part in the event.

Vice Chairman Sports Board Punjab Salman Malik, Secretary Sports Punjab Fazal-ur-Rehman, Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi, Additional Secretary Shabbir Hussain Cheema and other senior officials and sports personalities also attended. Khokhar described the Games as a historic occasion and said the event was being organised in line with the vision of Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz to provide greater opportunities to the country’s youth through sports. “Pakistan and China have always treated each other as brothers,” Khokhar said, adding that the bilateral friendship had withstood challenges and was founded on trust, mutual respect and cooperation.

He revealed that around 70,000 athletes participated in trials for the Games, reflecting the strong interest of Pakistani youth in the event. “Today, Lahore is sending a message to the entire world that we will continue to celebrate and strengthen Pak-China friendship through sports,” he said. Chinese Consul General Sun Yan described the Games as an excellent manifestation of the close ties between the two countries and congratulated the Punjab Sports and Youth Affairs Department for organising the event. He said Pakistan-China relations were based on mutual respect, trust and support, with cooperation extending to trade, economy, culture, education, security and defence. He cited the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a major example of bilateral cooperation. Sun Yan expressed hope that sports collaboration would further enhance people-to-people contacts between the two countries. Secretary Sports Punjab Fazal-ur-Rehman called for expanded sports cooperation, suggesting exchange programmes and joint training initiatives for coaches and athletes from Pakistan and China. The opening ceremony featured colourful cultural performances showcasing the traditions of Pakistan’s different regions and provinces.

The Games will provide athletes from across Pakistan an opportunity to compete while promoting sporting ties and people-to-people connections between Pakistan and China.