Haroon Malik, Chairman of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Normalisation Committee (NC), has expressed optimism about the potential of Karachi’s People’s Football Stadium to host international matches following necessary investments.
Malik emphasized that the People’s Football Stadium in Lyari, Karachi, possesses great potential as a venue for international matches, provided essential improvements are made. “People’s Stadium is a great facility which should host international matches if proper investment is done. Three to four things need to be fixed at the stadium, which includes the ground and seats. Within 6-8 months, international football can return to Karachi,” Malik conveyed to Geo News on Tuesday.
Addressing another key issue, Malik discussed the floodlights at Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad, where the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round 1 Qualifier between Pakistan and Cambodia recently took place. He revealed that Jinnah Stadium’s lights currently measure 350 lumen, falling short of the international requirement of 1800. Malik disclosed that the Pakistan Sports Board has been approached to upgrade the lights, enabling the hosting of night matches.
Pakistan’s national football team is set to commence the second round of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, starting with a game against Saudi Arabia in Dammam on November 16. Following the match against Saudi Arabia, Pakistan will host Tajikistan in Islamabad on November 21.
The upcoming schedule also includes hosting Jordan on March 21, 2024, a match against Saudi Arabia on June 6, and a concluding match against Tajikistan on June 11. The top two teams from the group will qualify for the third round.
Highlighting Pakistan’s historic achievement on October 17, when they secured a 1-0 victory against Cambodia at the Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad, Malik emphasized the progress made by the national team in reaching the second round of the qualifiers. The developments indicate a positive trajectory for football in Pakistan and the potential for Karachi to emerge as a significant venue for international football events.
