21 February 2004	Saturday	29 Zilhaj 1424

LAHORE, Feb 20: The 15-day Jashn-i-Baharan concluded here on Friday with a prize distribution ceremony at the Race Course Park.

The festival had coincided with the National Horse and Cattle Show, which also concluded at the Fortress Stadium on Friday evening with Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali as the chief guest. Punjab Governor Khalid Maqool and Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi were also present.

As many as 40,000 people witnessed the two-hour performance of Pakistan Rangers personnel at tent-pegging and torch shows besides a spectacular display of fireworks. Prime Minister Jamali announced a cash award for the fireworks organizer.

The spring festival was organized by the City District Government with the collaboration of various government departments, including the Parks and Horticulture Authority and some private parties.

It featured food and craft festivals at the Race Course Park, Minar-i-Pakistan and Gulshan-i-Iqbal. Girls from various colleges participated in floral arrangement competitions, schoolchildren in painting competitions and boys in kite-flying competitions organized by the All-Pakistan Kite Flying Association.

Musical shows and Mushairas were also held to add colour to the festival. A bike race was arranged on a specially constructed dirt track at Jallo Park.

The City District Government had erected illuminated gates on thoroughfares of the city while a stretch of canal between The Maal and Jail Road also lit up in the evening with decorative lights. -APP