18 February 2004	Wednesday	26 Zilhaj 1424

LAHORE, Feb 17: The National Horse and Cattle Show was poorly attended on Tuesday despite all the official fanfare and excitement.

Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad and AJK President Sardar Muhammad Anwar, chief guests on second day of the show, were received by Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi who also witnessed the tattoo show in the evening to keep the organizers on their toes.

The show has so far failed to attract the general public and the attendance is largely limited to schoolchildren who are transported to the venue by their respective schools working under the city government.

Families hardly formed 10 to 15 per cent of the total audience on Tuesday. On the other hand, VIPs' enclosure was fully loaded with ministers, bureaucrats, dignitaries and their families.

Another lamentable contrast was the protocol difference between VIPs' enclosure and the rest of the stadium. In VIPs' enclosure, all visitors were continuously served with lunch boxes and hot and cold beverages. In the other eight enclosures, it was hard to find something digestible or get water for children.

Their is a general lack of interest among people for the show. And those interested are not getting easy access to the Fortress Stadium. Those managing to get entry passes after much hassle are humiliated by the security staff at the stadium to the extent that many of them turn back.

Many families were seen returning. They said they had been given family passes but the gate staff insisted that one pass was valid for one person only.

Parking remained another source of irritation for the visitors. The contractor seems to have got a chance of a lifetime for fleecing hapless visitors, charging Rs10 for the parking of a motorcycle.

Motorcyclists are confused by the traffic police and not allowed to park their bikes at the designated parking lot. They are asked to park their bikes on Shami Road instead. Many of them return after failing to find parking place and suffering humiliation at the hands of police.

The morning programme included a Unity Show, the Army Band display, callisthenics, a cavalcade of livestock, a Greyhound race, folk dances, tent-pegging, motorcycle trick-riding by Military Police, a bullock cart race, horse and camel dances and a prize distribution ceremony.

The cavalcade featured the Neeli Ravi buffalo, the Dajal sheep, fillies, colts and stallions of the Punjab besides Tharparker and Kankrej cows from Sindh.

The show featured artistically-arranged callisthenics through coordination of folk dances from different provinces & the AJK. The dances were choreographed on regional music.

Tent-pegging, a thrilling elite sport, enthralled the audience. The bullock cart race and horse and camel dances provide an opportunity to villagers to exhibit their skills. The Sindh governor and the AJK president distributed cash prizes and certificates among the winners.