The Pakistani contingent includes runners from Karachi and Islamabad, as well as Pakistanis and people of Pakistani origin living in the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway and Singapore. Their participation reflects the growing popularity of marathon running among the Pakistani diaspora.
The group features experienced marathon runners, Ironman athletes and professionals from different fields. Four members of the contingent have already earned the Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star Medal: Jamal Khan, Dr Saad Usmani, Yusra Bukhari and Fahad Mukhtar.
Meanwhile, Karachi’s Sadiq Shah and Geo News anchor Muhammad Junaid will compete with the aim of completing their sixth World Marathon Major and earning the prestigious Six Star Medal.
The Abbott World Marathon Majors comprise six major races held in Tokyo, Boston, London, Chicago, Berlin and New York. Runners who complete all six earn the Six Star Medal, recognising their dedication, consistency and endurance.
Sadiq Shah has set himself the target of completing the New York race in under three hours. He described earning the sixth star as a major achievement in the world of distance running.
Shah said he was excited about the challenge, adding that finishing in under three hours would be particularly significant because he had completed each of his previous five major marathons within that time.
He said his preparations had gone reasonably well, although training in extremely hot weather had been difficult. While confident about his preparation, he acknowledged that it had not been ideal.
Shah said his immediate focus was to finish in under three hours, noting that New York’s challenging course would make it difficult to achieve a personal best.
Several Pakistani runners also bring considerable experience of the New York City Marathon. Aamir Butt, who has links to New Jersey and Lahore, will participate in the race for the ninth time, while Jamal Khan is set to make his fifth appearance.
Fahad Mukhtar from Multan will compete in the marathon for the third time. He is also among the Pakistani runners who have already secured the Six Star Medal.
The contingent includes three Ironman athletes: Aamir Butt, Fahad Mukhtar and Danish Raza.
The group also represents a wide range of professional backgrounds. Six Star Medal holder Yusra Bukhari is a lawyer, while Bashiri Anjum is a doctor based in New York.
At least three medical doctors are expected to take part in the marathon, including Dr Saad Usmani, who is involved in multiple myeloma cancer research.
Women will also form an important part of the Pakistani contingent. Participants include Yusra Bukhari, Bashiri Anjum, Ailiya Zaidi, Hina Malik, Samina Khan, Jahan Khan, Kalina Soomro and Asma.
The New York City Marathon covers 26.2 miles, or 42.195 kilometres, and passes through all five boroughs of the city.
The race begins near the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge on Staten Island, with runners crossing the bridge into Brooklyn before continuing through Queens. They then cross the Queensboro Bridge into Manhattan, run north along First Avenue and enter the Bronx via the Willis Avenue Bridge.
After returning to Manhattan across the Madison Avenue Bridge, runners proceed along Fifth Avenue towards Central Park, where the race finishes.
The course presents several challenges, including bridges, varied routes and demanding final stages, making pace management and energy conservation particularly important for runners aiming to meet specific time targets.
The New York City Marathon is among the world's most popular road races, attracting thousands of elite athletes, amateur runners and charity participants. Its route through all five boroughs gives the event a distinctive character.
Ahead of Sunday's race, Pakistani runners also took part in the Parade of Nations.