The Inter-Department Sports Festival 2026 commenced at the University of Sindh, Jamshoro, with Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Fateh Muhammad Marri (TI), Provincial Secretary for Sports, Government of Sindh, Munawar Ali Mahesar, Commissioner Hyderabad Division Fayaz Hussain Abbasi, and Deputy Commissioner Jamshoro Ghazanfar Ali Qadri jointly inaugurating the event.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony held at the university’s Haider Bux Jatoi Pavilion, Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Fateh Muhammad Marri said that sports play a vital role in physical health, mental development and personality building. He said that sports promote discipline, tolerance, self-confidence, teamwork and leadership skills. They also foster a positive competitive spirit, mutual respect and the confidence to face challenges.

The Vice Chancellor said that the three-week Inter-Department Sports Festival had been organised to provide students with opportunities to showcase their talents, promote a healthy and constructive environment, and strengthen interaction among various departments. He said that students from different departments across all faculties of the university were participating in the festival. Regardless of which team emerged victorious, he added, the achievement would ultimately be considered a success for the University of Sindh.

Welcoming the Provincial Secretary for Sports, Commissioner Hyderabad and Deputy Commissioner Jamshoro, the Vice Chancellor appreciated their cooperation with the university and expressed hope that the same spirit of collaboration would continue in the future. He also congratulated the Vice Chairman of the University of Sindh Sports Board, Dr. Ghulam Ali Buriro, Director Sports (Boys) Ajved Ahmed Bhatti, Director Sports (Girls) Dr. Zareen Memon, and their entire team for making excellent arrangements for the event.

Addressing the ceremony, Provincial Secretary for Sports Minawar Ali Mahesar said that he had always considered the University of Sindh his second home. During his tenure as Deputy Commissioner of Jamshoro, he had organised several joint programmes with the university, including Dhamal. He said that the University of Sindh was not only a centre of knowledge and awareness but also an important hub of cultural, academic, literary and sporting activities.

He said that sports were an essential part of life, offering recreational opportunities as well as health benefits. On the occasion, he announced that another grand programme of a similar nature would be organised at the University of Sindh in January 2027, with the support of the Sports Department, Government of Sindh.

Addressing the ceremony, Commissioner Hyderabad Fayaz Hussain Abbasi said that he was extremely pleased to witness the talents and abilities demonstrated by the students participating in the festival. He said that university students were making their mark in co-curricular activities alongside their academic pursuits. He added that remarkable activities were being organised at the university under the leadership of Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Fateh Muhammad Marri.

Appreciating the hard work of the students and their teachers, he said that such positive activities played an important role in enhancing the reputation and development of educational institutions. He emphasised that providing students with opportunities to showcase their talents was as important as ensuring quality education. He further said that sports played a significant role in building a healthy society and urged students to participate enthusiastically in such activities.

On the occasion, students representing various departments also presented a walk-past. They were dressed in colourful sports uniforms representing their respective faculties.

During the ceremony, Dr. Ghulam Ali Buriro presented a commemorative shield to the Vice Chancellor, who, in turn, presented commemorative shields to the distinguished guests, including Munawar Ali Mahesar, Fayaz Hussain Abbasi and Ghazanfar Ali Qadri; Pro Vice Chancellors Dr. Abdul Sattar Shah, Dr. Misbah Bibi Qureshi and Dr. Anila Naz Soomro; Syndicate members Dr. Arfana Mallah, Dr. Muhammad Qasim Nizamani, Dr. Humera Hakro, Dr. Abdul Rehman Nangraj and Dr. Mehmood ul Hassan Mughal, Dr. Ghulam Ali Buriro; and other participants.

The ceremony was attended by Registrar Sajid Qayoom Memon, deans of various faculties of the university, including Dr. Muhammad Khan Sangi, Dr. Nanik Ram, Dr. Javed Ahmed Chandio, Dr. Lachhman Das Dhomeja, Dr. Sardar Ali Shah, Dr. Naheed Kaka and Dr. Abida Siddiqui, as well as heads of departments, faculty members and university officers. At the conclusion of the ceremony, Dr. Ghulam Ali Buriro thanked all the participants.

The festival will continue until November 28, featuring various sporting competitions among boys’ and girls’ teams representing different departments of the University of Sindh. The competitions will include cricket, badminton, table tennis, volleyball, football, basketball, tug-of-war, chess, athletics and other sports. The winning teams will be awarded trophies, shields and certificates at the closing ceremony.