The National Horse and Cattle Show (NHCS) marks the start of spring season, which is a sign of happiness and prosperity for farmers, industrialists and general public, said President Mamnoon Hussain Thursday at the inauguration of the festival which is being held after a pause of 11-year at the Fortress Stadium. The ceremony started with recitation from the Holy Quran and national anthem.
Mamnoon said the revival of NHCS is a sign of development, which ultimately helps in curbing the menace of terrorism and extremism, adding that the Operation Zarb-e-Azb is going on successfully and would continue till elimination of the last terrorist.
Punjab Acting Governor Rana Muhammad Iqbal, Punjab Chief Minister’s Adviser on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique, Punjab Rangers Director General Major General Khan Tahir Javed Khan, officials, students and a large number of people from different walks of life, attended the inaugural ceremony of the show that will last till March 8.
NEW POWER PROJECTS:
Commenting on energy crisis, he said that 15 new electricity projects were being initiated in collaboration with China and the World Bank, which would help overcome load shedding within next three years.
With new dams being constructed, Pakistan will have a raised capacity of water reservoirs in near future, which would subsequently help increase country’s agricultural yields, he added.
The president said that robust crops, agri-produces and availability of adequate energy would definitely ensure development in all sectors of economy, thus enabling farmers, livestock farmers, industrialists and traders to celebrate the spring festivity with more pomp and show.
He also mentioned vital project of Pak-China Economic Corridor, and said it would not only usher a new era of development and prosperity in the country but also in the entire region. Therefore, it’s timely completion was utmost necessary, he added.
The corridor project would not affect adversely any part of the country, he said and called upon the people to play their role in maintaining a cordial atmosphere.
He said struggle and quest could make a hard target achievable, adding that China became second biggest economy of the world through struggle and persistent efforts.
Following its neighbouring friend, he said, Pakistani nation would have to renew its pledge to eliminate corrupt elements and practices, and “if we succeed to do that, Pakistan would not be facing any more crisis or problems as on today.”
He said that livestock sector was an important component of economic growth and the government had made commendable work for promotion of this sector. However, he called for making more efforts in this direction.
The show featured – Unity Folk Dances by students clad in traditional and regional dresses, representing cultural facets of all the four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and the AJK, horse riders formation, cattle show, cultural floats showing traditional lifestyles of various parts of the country, horse and camel tent-packing, Military Police motorbike riding stunts, hound dog race, dog jumping, Pak Rangers special drill/parade, performance by Pak Army band squad and Pak Rangers camel band squad.
