‘Pakistan to host Billie Jean King Cup in October’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is set to script history as it prepares to host the Billie Jean King (BJK) Cup for the first time, with 10 Asian women’s teams confirmed to compete in October, the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) announced on Sunday.

“For the first time in Paki­stan’s sporting history, 10 Asian women’s teams will be arriving to compete [in the BJK Cup] on our soil,” PTF president Aisam-ul-Haq said in a vlog.

“This event will be a game changer providing the Pakistan girls with a unique platform to showcase their talent and impr­ove world rankings,” he added.

The tournament is scheduled to run from Oct 19 to 25 drawing teams from across Asia in what promises to be a landmark week of competitive tennis in Pakistan.

The PTF president revealed that the International Tennis Federation (ITF) had formally entrusted Pakistan with the hosting rights of the BJK Cup, a gesture he said “reflected the international community’s growing confidence in Pakistan’s ability to organise top-tier competitions”.

Regarding operational readiness, Aisam assured that the PTF would make every effort to conduct the event in the best possible way.

“We are committed to ensuring that this tournament is conducted to the highest standards,” he insisted.

He said that the PTF viewed this event as a platform to project a positive and soft image of Pakistan globally, while simultaneously demonstrating the country’s commitment to women’s empowerment.

“Through this tournament, we’ll tell the world that Pakistan fully believes in empowering its women.”

He further told that the PTF was committed to ensuring equal opportunities for female athletes alongside their male counterparts. “We are committed to ensuring our women players receive the same platform, opportunities and recognition as males,” he said.

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2026

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