KARACHI: The Mega Motor Company (MMC), the official partner of BYD in Pakistan, announced the sponsorship of Pakistan’s top running talent to represent the country at the London Marathon 2026. This announcement was made at the closing ceremony of the BYD Karachi Marathon, which brought together over 7000 athletes from across Pakistan, alongside more than 120 international participants representing over 25 countries.
The top male finisher, Israr Khattak, completed the race in 2 hours 39 minutes, while the top female finisher, Sara Lodhi, finished in 3 hours 33 minutes, emerging as champions of Pakistan’s first World Athletics–certified long-distance running event. Cash prizes were also awarded to leading performers across both men’s and women’s categories, with PKR 500,000 for first place, PKR 250,000 for second place, and PKR 125,000 for third place finishers.“This is a proud moment for Pakistan, as Karachi takes its place alongside the global community of world-class running events,” said Danish Khaliq, Vice President Sales & Strategy at BYD Pakistan – MMC, while addressing the award ceremony.
“We are equally proud of the athletes who participated and demonstrated excellence in this sport. As the World’s No. 1 New Energy Vehicles (NEV) brand, BYD’s vision for a sustainable, forward-moving Pakistan aligns closely with the spirit of marathon running. Through this shared vision, MMC is proud to support athletes and enthusiasts to showcase Pakistan’s ambition and resilience to the world.”
Commenting on the partnership, Shoaib Nizami, CEO Sports in Pakistan and Race Director of the Karachi Marathon: “This is our third year of hosting an event of this scale, and with BYD’s support, we were able to take it to the next level. We truly appreciate BYD’s role in uniting the running community nationwide through social runs, digital campaigns, and dealership activations, helping rally the entire Country behind the sport. We hope this long-term partnership will help make marathon running a mainstream sport and give it the recognition it deserves.”
Building on the legacy of supporting local talent, first seen through the HBL PSL partnership, MMC’s collaboration with the Karachi Marathon goes beyond sponsorship. By supporting a platform that promotes determination, physical and mental well-being, the Company aims to empower Pakistan’s youth and provide emerging athletes with meaningful opportunities to compete, grow and represent the Country on the global stage.
Aligned with Vision 2032, which aims to prepare Pakistani runners to qualify and compete at the Olympics, BYD–MMC seeks to unlock the limitless potential of local athletes, inspiring a new generation to believe that every step can drive Pakistan upwards and beyond.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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