“Following the national team’s impressive performance at the Asian Games, the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) is reconsidering its decision of dropping hockey and football from the National Games,” Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Sports Minister Aqil Shah said.

Earlier, the POA had decided to exclude as many as 12 outdoor disciplines due to security concerns in the volatile KP province. The move was heavily criticised by various sports bodies and the POA was advised to move the Games from the province.

The National Games are scheduled to be held from December 25 to 31 in Peshawar. Athletes from across the country will contest in 25 disciplines, after cycling, football and hockey were dropped from the original list of 28.

Women’s swimming and shooting contests will be held in Islamabad due to lack of facilities in Peshawar.

It will be sixth time that Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa will host the National Games after 1958, 1974, 1982, 1990 and 1998.