Pakistan's first ever ice hockey match played in Gilgit-Baltistan

E-Paper | May 23, 2026

Pakistan's first ever ice hockey match played in Gilgit-Baltistan

APP Published December 29, 2018

Players displayed extreme skill in the first ever ice hockey
match in Pakistan. —APP — Players displayed extreme skill in the first ever ice hockey match in Pakistan. —APP

The match was played between the teams of Pakistan Air Force and GB Scouts. —APP

Participants of the ice hockey match pose for a group photo at Naltar, the hilly snow resort of the Pakistan Air Force in Gilgit-Baltistan. —PAF

comments

Join our Whatsapp Channel

Add Dawn as a trusted source

The first-ever match of ice hockey in Pakistan was played on Saturday in Naltar, the hilly snow resort of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).

The match was played between the teams of PAF and GB Scouts.

Players from both sides showed extraordinary skill but no team could score a goal within the stipulated time. Therefore the fate of the match lay with the penalty shootout, where Shahryar from team PAF scored the only goal of the match leading to their victory.

The history of ice hockey in the GB region can be traced to a local game ghatal, which is also played with two sticks and a ball.

To continue the legacy of this traditional game, ice hockey has been introduced in the region.

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Sport

Naltar, Malam Jabba ready for winter sports extravaganza

Exploring Rama Meadows and the isolation at Naltar

Naltar Valley: Skiing on the magic carpet

Arshad ,Csnada

Dec 29, 2018 09:04pm

Very happy to read this. I have been living in Canada for over 40 years and got hooked up with this game the day I landed here. I wish all the players well and will be happy to provide equipments since they are very very expensive. Somehow I will reach the organizers.

Recommend 0

Gordon D. Walker

Dec 29, 2018 09:19pm

Enjoy! Hockey is a passion in my country and I hope this sport catches on in Pakistan. Keep your heads up, sticks down and have fun! Gordon D. Walker Canada

Recommend 0

Zahid

Dec 29, 2018 09:25pm

That's wonderful. Long live Pakistan

Recommend 0

DARA KHAN

Dec 29, 2018 09:48pm

awesome

Recommend 0

ARIF UR RAHMAN

Dec 29, 2018 09:58pm

Congratulations to the organizers.

Recommend 0

azam khan

Dec 29, 2018 10:00pm

Wow ! that is big news. I am thrilled to know that Gilgit-Baltistan took the lead in introducing ice-hockey in Pakistan.

Recommend 0

Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Dec 29, 2018 10:06pm

Welcome to the club of modern day ice-hockey. Keep it up and hang on tough.

Recommend 0

Zafar Nomani

Dec 29, 2018 10:16pm

Great! Congratulations to the organizers. Pakistan should encourage winter sports and participate in the Olympics. Good luck.

Recommend 0

GK, Canada

Dec 29, 2018 10:21pm

Glad to hear the game of ice hockey was finally introduced to the region. It’s a wonderful sport and a great form of exercise. It’s about time Pakistan attempts to catch up to other Muslim Countries in the region, who have been playing this sport for a number of years like UAE and Lebanon. To the organizers, if you’re looking to promote this game in the country, there are many options available, but maybe start by contacting the Canadian Embassy in Islamabad. They’ll at least have a list of contacts even if no direct funding for equipment and stuff. Keep your stick on the ice and good luck!

Recommend 0

Sameer

Dec 29, 2018 10:29pm

They eveb hosted ski competitions. This can be excellent venue for Winter olympics.

Recommend 0

Anonymouseeeee

Dec 29, 2018 10:36pm

Excellent news.

Recommend 0

Pak-UK

Dec 29, 2018 10:44pm

Lovely news. Pakistan zindabad.

Recommend 0

Iftekhar Hassan

Dec 29, 2018 10:45pm

My son plays hockey in the United States since 1996. I like to see a Pakistani team than can play against Canadian, America and European teams.

Recommend 0

Kaka

Dec 29, 2018 11:13pm

Alhamdulilah

Recommend 0

Kaka

Dec 29, 2018 11:14pm

@Arshad ,Csnada, thank you

Recommend 0

AbdulRahman

Dec 29, 2018 11:24pm

Well a world ice hockey tournament can be organized in coming days but do not delay for the event as the enviornbnment is quite good. What is stopping? Start advertising. Make arrangements since PAF is also involved. A league should be formed and a handsome prize should be announced from GB govt. so that more countries can participate in the game. Lets kick it start!

Recommend 0

Texan

Dec 30, 2018 12:05am

Great. Finally an international game. Let's get some serious coaching and facilities behind these hardworking men. I would love to see some of the playing NHL Dallas Star team.

Recommend 0

Interesting

Dec 30, 2018 12:27am

This is excellent, but is this the best use of public money in current situation. Can we use it for dams or in Thar

Recommend 0

Dec 30, 2018 12:59am

@Iftekhar Hassan, sir it would be along time before we would be able to play abroad. It would be a great opportunity that Pakistani lads who play hockey in US and Canada forma team and come to Pakistan to play a few exhibition matches. This would not only promote the game but will also help pur kids to learn the game.from.better player thus preparing them to participate in sporting events of better teams

Recommend 0

Ash Man

Dec 30, 2018 01:16am

Ice hockey is a very expensive sport. Very little chance of it becoming popular in southern Pakistan because of the weather.

Recommend 0

Zak

Dec 30, 2018 01:29am

It wont be long before pakistan will have a team in international ice hockey competitions. Once we enter, we compete for the best. Very Impressed.

Recommend 0

Seedoo

Dec 30, 2018 02:12am

May be Pakistan will do well someday at the world stage in ice hockey. It's field hockey is going nowhere

Recommend 0

Muslim Medina

Dec 30, 2018 03:45am

Best wishes to sponsor of Ice Hockey in Pakistan form Toronto where I have watched many games. I would request the coaches and sponsors to please keep the body and stick contact from the sport.

Recommend 0

Khany

Dec 30, 2018 05:07am

Pakistan needs Ice Hockey stadiums in every towns and create a Hockey League by live tele casting it in HD. Then you can do the same with Ice Hockey. You cant just skip a step to Ice Hockey league without having a Hockey League like the PSL. These are the best way to promote the sport which will create revenues and profits.

Recommend 0

Jaskaran

Dec 30, 2018 05:35am

Awesome to see, i hope pakistan expands ice hockey

Recommend 0

Pakistan First

Dec 30, 2018 05:45am

Really happy to see this, living in Canada for a number of years ice hockey has become one of my fav games. hoping to see Pakistan on international level one day.

Recommend 0

Basharat Qamar

Dec 30, 2018 06:45am

What a spectacular place to play Ice Hockey.Simply beautiful.......

Recommend 0

Khalid Azhar

Dec 30, 2018 06:53am

Congratulations for the organizers as felicitations continue to pour in from around the world. Best of luck

Recommend 0

SunoEkBaar

Dec 30, 2018 07:15am

Good start. Send the team to Winter Olympics.

Recommend 0

Muslim Medina

Dec 30, 2018 07:24am

@Arshad ,Csnada, You are right. Ice Hockey, is just not a sport for us Canadians, it is a passion.

Recommend 0

Khan

Dec 30, 2018 07:46am

Great

Recommend 0

Alex Grant

Dec 30, 2018 09:07am

I have some older equipment but in very good shape to donate if it would be helpful. Grew up in Minnesota and have played all my life. Happy to come to Pakistan and help with a clinic or two!

Recommend 0

Moth

Dec 30, 2018 09:13am

Great development. Expand ice hokey at city level. This is economic development. This is economic growth. More activities and hobbies people have the more economic development we have in Pakistan and more job creation. More games, more hobies and more activities — means more employment.

Recommend 0

Sparky

Dec 30, 2018 09:40am

Fate will be the same as Regular Hockey.

Recommend 0

Jehengir khan

Dec 30, 2018 06:24pm

Excellent....now thats called moving in good direction.....ice hockey is fast and cool to watch....

Recommend 0

Amer Rao

Dec 30, 2018 06:25pm

Wow, Beautiful game.

Recommend 0

Abdullah Azzam

Dec 30, 2018 08:03pm

great start hope international event will held in future

Recommend 0

Ali Vazir

Dec 30, 2018 08:14pm

Extremely delighted to read this. Best of luck GB and PAF. Pakistan on the verge of winning tourists' first choice country. I am also planning to open office in Pakistan to promote tourism soon. A Tour operator from African Central and East.

Recommend 0