KARACHI MERATHON RACE

Pakistan’s largest and internationally recognized marathon was held at Karachi’s coastline, where Peshawar’s Israr Khattak emerged victorious by completing the 42-kilometer race in 2 hours, 29 minutes, and 58 seconds. According to *Dawn News*, the marathon took place at Seaview near the Nishan-e-Pakistan monument and was officially approved by World Athletics. The event saw participation from local and international athletes, along with notable political and social figures. The marathon included various categories: Full Marathon, Half Marathon, 10-kilometer Relay, and a 5-kilometer Fun Race. In the Full Marathon, Israr Khattak from Peshawar completed the 42-kilometer distance in 2 hours, 29 minutes, and 58 seconds, earning a prize of PKR 500,000. Muhammad Riaz from Bahawalpur secured second place, finishing the race in 2 hours, 32 minutes, and 10 seconds. In the Half Marathon category, Muhammad Akhtar from Sahiwal claimed victory and won a prize of PKR 50,000, while in the Girls' category, Mumtaz Nemat from Gilgit emerged as the winner. Runners' groups from Islamabad and Quetta also participated in the event. International athletes praised the initiative, calling it a positive step for sports in Pakistan.