ISLAMABAD, 05 September, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar has directed all concerned authorities to maintain close coordination, ensure the timely completion of venues and uphold the highest standards for the successful hosting of the South Asian Federation (SAF) Games. Chairing a meeting of the Steering Committee on preparations for the SAF Games on Saturday, the Deputy Prime Minister directed the committee to meet every month to review progress and ensure that all preparations remain on schedule. The meeting was attended by the Advisor to the Prime Minister on Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC), Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa, Secretary IPC, representatives of provincial governments and senior federal and provincial officials. The meeting was informed that, in coordination with the South Asian Olympic Committee, the dates for the SAF Games have been finalized from April 4 to 11, 2027. The appointment of a National Coordinator and the composition of the steering, organizing and provincial committees were also approved during the meeting. A total of 28 sports will be contested during the Games, with more than 6,000 athletes and officials expected to participate. Events will be held in Islamabad, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Ishaq Dar emphasized the importance of effective coordination among all relevant institutions to ensure timely preparations and the successful organization of the regional sporting event.