LAHORE: President Mamnoon Hussain has inaugurated a long-awaited National Horse and Cattle Show at Fortress Stadium after an 11-year gap.
Addressing the opening ceremony, the president said the show was the sign of development, which ultimately ensures end of terrorism and extremism. He said that operation Zarb-e-Azb is being carried 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 Rafiq, 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 ceremony of the show that will last till March 8.
Mamnoon also said that 15 new electricity projects were being initiated in collaboration with China and the World Bank, which would help overcome loadshedding within next three years.
Mamnoon also mentioned vital $45 billion project of Pak-China Economic Corridor, saying that it would not only usher in a new era of development and prosperity in the country but also in the entire region.
Therefore, its timely completion was utmost necessary, he added.
The China-Pak Economic 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.
The president further 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 said that the struggle and quest could make a hard target achievable, adding China became second biggest economy of the world through struggle and persistent efforts.
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 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.
