KARACHI, April 7: Hyderabad will play host to the 16th Sindh Games when it returns to the city after 2006 later this year.

This was stated by Sindh Sports Minister Dr Mohammad Ali Shah, who is also president of the Sindh Olympic Association (SOA), at a simple ceremony held to hand over the Games flag to a high-powered delegation of Hyderabad at the Karachi Gymkhana here on Saturday.

Hyderabad has staged the Games thrice so far since its inception in 1986. The previous occasions were fourth in 1991, ninth in 2000 and 10th in 2006.

Dr Shah handed over the Games flag to Sindh Minister for Rural Development Zubair Ahmed, who belongs to Muttahida Qaumi Movement and hails from Hyderabad, amidst applause.

Also present on the occasion were legislators from Hyderabad MNAs Syed Tayyab Hussain and Salahuddin, MPA Syed Waseem Hussain, besides secretary sports Aftab Ahmed Khatri, secretary SOA Ahmed Ali and newly appointed director, Sindh Sports Board, Mushtaq Ahmed.

The minister termed the recently held Mirpurkhas Games as the best ever held where a record number of 50 disciplines — 35 for men and 15 for women — took place.

He lashed out at some private television channels for adversely reporting and tarnishing the image of the Games’ organisers.

The SOA chief said it goes to his credit that four successive Games took place during his tenure since 2009 in Larkana, Karachi, Sukkur and Mirpurkhas respectively which was never heard of in the past.

Making comparison of Sindh Games with the Punjab Games, the minister said it was he who took the Games to every nook and cranny of the province whereas the Punjab Games are always held in Lahore which is equipped with better infrastructure.

President SOA hoped the Hyderabad Games would set new milestones under the present leadership and go a long way in promoting sporting culture in the city and province which will help minimise crime rate.

Earlier, the Hyderabad legislators thanked the minister for selecting Hyderabad as a venue to conduct the Games and at the same time urged to conduct them later this year as weather would be conducive.

They assured to stage the Games in a befitting manner and overcome shortcomings.